"Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev will have to explain the reasons for soar of prices and shortage of various [foodstuff] products and goods, which is considered artificial by many people in the country," a source in the Uzbek government told the agency.

He said that the prompt measures taken in the social sphere on the eve of the election, like increasing the volume of the allocations, which are spent from the state budget on paying welfare to poor families, for one and a half times has hit the budget. "Somebody should take responsibility for this," the source said, hinting that "the prime minister’s fate is in the president’s hands".

However, the source said that a new candidature for the post of the prime minister was being discussed in Tashkent. Rustam Azimov may become that person. Currently, he is a deputy prime minister and represents Uzbekistan before the international community.

The Uzbek experts say that Azimov may play a role of Karimov’s successor. "Now, the oriental version of the Russian scenario of president-prime minister is being discussed in the country," the expert wishing to remain unknown told the agency.

Should Azimov get the prime minister’s post, then obviously, he will have to carry out a balanced and cautious policy between Russian and Chinese investors, whose interests are increasingly and strongly colliding in Uzbekistan. While coordinating the foreign policy with Moscow and Beijing, Tashkent will try to restore full-fledged relations with the West, which were frozen after the [13 May 2005 tragic] Andijon events.