Saida Mirziyoyeva

Saida Shavkatovna Mirziyoyeva (born 4 November 1984) is an Uzbek politician. and the eldest daughter of incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Since June 2025, she has occupied the role of Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan.

In August 2023, when the position of Head of the Presidential Administration was dissolved, Mirziyoyeva was appointed First Assistant to the President and took over the highest position in the president's administration after the head of state. On 24 June 2025, the position of Head was re-established and Mirziyoyeva was appointed to it.

Previously, Mirziyoyeva served as the head of the Communications and Information Policy Sector of the Executive Office of the President from 2020 to 2023, as deputy chairperson of the supervisory board of the Public Foundation for Support and Development of National Mass Media of Uzbekistan from 2020 to November 2022, and as deputy director of the Information and Mass Communications Agency at the Presidential Administration from April 2019 to January 2020.

Early life and education Saida Mirziyoyeva was born on November 4, 1984, in Kokand, Fergana Region, into the family of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, an employee and Komsomol organizer of the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration, and Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, a student of this institute and the daughter of an affluent Soviet official. Saida Mirziyoyeva has a younger sister, Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, and a brother, Miralisher Mirziyoyev (born in 2009).

In 2006, she graduated from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy with a bachelor's degree in international law. In 2008, she obtained a master's degree in law from the Tashkent State University of Law, followed by a master's degree in economics from Moscow State University in 2010.

On January 31, 2020, Saida Mirziyoyeva became the deputy to Komil Allamjonov, who had just been elected as the chairman of the supervisory board of the newly established Public Foundation for Support and Development of National Mass Media. The foundation's stated goal was to "promote the creation of equal conditions in the media market, protect the rights, and provide comprehensive support to media, journalists, and bloggers." However, the foundation also promoted a liberal image of Shavkat Mirziyoyev's government outside of Uzbekistan. According to the president's spokesperson, Mirziyoyeva's team would focus on "studying public opinion and information policy." Observers noted that these changes came in response to significant protests in Karakalpakstan earlier that year, and Mirziyoyeva's main task would be to repair the image of her father's government. Experts and observers noted tensions between Saida Mirziyoyeva and Sardor Umurzakov, who had rapidly gained political influence, and considered Mirziyoyeva's new appointment a sign of the president's need to rely on family and loyalists due to his perceived vulnerability. While Mirziyoyeva's exact responsibilities in her new role remain unclear, it is expected that she will continue efforts to enhance Uzbekistan's positive international image. The President had recognised her courage after the BBC award and he gave her a Mardlik award for her courage.

In June 2025, the position of the Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan was re-established and Mirziyoyeva was appointed there.

Public image and criticism Since assuming her role within the AIMC, she has actively engaged with social media, prompting significant coverage from Uzbek media outlets. Throughout her career, she has been a vocal advocate for liberal media laws, education advancement, gender equality reforms, and women's rights. She is also known for her active commentary on current events. Additionally, she portrays herself as a nurturing mother figure and a preserver of Islamic cultural traditions.

Criticism of Mirziyoyeva's rapid rise to prominence often centers on allegations of nepotism, a common feature of Shavkat Mirziyoyev's administration. Some independent observers liken her trajectory to that of Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan's first president, while others suggest parallels with the establishment of new political dynasties in countries like Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. However, there are also concerns that in Uzbekistan's conservative society, Mirziyoyeva might serve more as a "regent" for her younger brother, MiraLisher Mirziyoyev, should he assume power prematurely.

The couple has three children: a son Miromon, a daughter Saodat, and a son Shavkat (born in 2020), who was named after his grandfather, the president.