Early years and education

Ziroatkhon Hoshimova was born in the Uzbek city of Kokand into an influential and religious family. Her father was head of the Central Asian railway's supply department, which managed the 'Dorrestoran' catering and dining cars. Due to his access to deficit goods, Makhmudjon Khoshimov was a very influential and wealthy man in the Ferghana Valley. According to some reports, he owned 10 refrigerator wagons that were used to ship fruit and vegetables from the Uzbek SSR to other Soviet Union republics and to bring back manufactured goods.^[1]

Hoshimova enrolled at TIIAME, where she met Shavkat Mirziyoyev, an employee of the university and its Komsomol secretary. Her family initially opposed their relationship, but eventually approved the marriage.^[1] When she was still a student, Khoshimova had a daughter, Saida.^[2] Khoshimova graduated in 1986 with a degree in economics engineering. She speaks Uzbek, Russian and English.^[3]

Public and political activity

Her husband Shavkat Mirziyoyev became a deputy of the 12th convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the Uzbek SSR in 1990, then he was a khokim of one of the districts of Tashkent, a member of two convocations of the Oliy Majlis, the 3rd khokim of Jizzakh Region, the 4th khokim of Samarkand Region. After that, he was appointed Prime Minister of Uzbekistan in 2003 and retained this position until 2016.^[4]

During presidency of Islam Karimov, Hoshimova, as well as all her family members, lived a private life and did not participate in official events for fear of possible persecution by the president. The first mention of Ziroathon Khoshimova appeared in Shavkat Mirziyoyev's official biography only in November 2016, when he became a presidential candidate after Karimov's death.^[1]

Later, as the wife of the president, she began to appear regularly in public and accompany Shavkat Mirziyoyev on international visits.^[5] According to Radio Ozodlik, Hoshimova influences appointments in the Uzbek government, with her power is particularly strong in the Ministry of Health and the pharmaceutical sector.^[5]

Ziroathon Hoshimova is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the 'Zamin' International Public Foundation, established in 2020. The foundation leads chariy projects as well as health care, education and inclusive environment initiatives in Uzbekistan. The first project of the foundation was the provision of material assistance to 5 thousand women in the amount of 5 billion sums.^[3][6]