TASHKENT, September 8. /TASS/. Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been appointed as the acting president, the republic’s governmental portal said on Thursday announcing a decision approved by the parliament.

"The chambers of Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly) passed a joint resolution on temporarily devolving responsibilities and powers of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev," the statement said.

The parliament has recommended the Central Election Commission to organize presidential elections in accordance with the country’s law.

Chairman of the Senate Nigmatilla Yuldashev put forward the proposal on Mirziyoyev’s appointment "taking into consideration his experience of many years at the top positions in the state government and administration bodies, and also respect among the population," the statement read.

The heads of factions of political parties, deputies and senators backed the proposal due to "the need to maintain stability, ensure public security and order, and to efficiently solve the most important issues of political, social and economic development of the country in current conditions."

Central Election Commission to set presidential election date in coming days

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan will soon appoint the date of the country’s presidential election, a CEC representative told TASS on Thursday.

"We will certainly in the coming days hold a meeting and determine the date of the early election of a new head of state in connection with the death on September 2 of the first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov", the source said. "In accordance with the law, the election must be held within three months", he added.

Uzbekistan’s first President Islam Karimov died after suffering a stroke at the age of 78 on September 2.

Islam Karimov was born on January 30, 1938 in Samarkand, a city in eastern Uzbekistan. Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, when he became the First Secretary of the republic’s Communist Party. In March 1990, he became the first president of the republic. In 1991, Karimov won the first presidential election in Uzbekistan and served as president for five years. He retained his top post following nationwide referendums in 1995 and 2002, and after direct elections in 2000, 2007 and 2015.

Karimov is one of the longest-serving presidents in the former Soviet states. He remained in power for 26 years. In addition, the president was awarded the title Hero of Uzbekistan. Karimov is also a doctor of science and an honorary academic at many educational institutions and establishments throughout many foreign countries. He is the author of books on Uzbekistan’s political and economic development. His works, statements and texts of his speeches were published in a ten-volume book.