Uzbekistan’s parliament appointed Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev as interim president on Thursday, a source who saw the written decision of the legislature told Reuters.
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It’s not clear whether the date for the presidential election will be announced during the parliament session, which began in Tashkent on September 8.
Karimov’s death was widely reported nearly a week before the government announced he had died after a stroke.
Karimov, one of Asia’s most autocratic leaders, had ruled for 27 years, and was accused by human rights groups of harshly repressing dissent.
Rosenblum did not mention meeting any of the most senior officials who are viewed as potential successors to Karimov, such as Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev or his deputy, Rustam Azimov.
Yuldashev turned down the role and instead asked to for Mirziyoyev to be instated as acting president, taking into account “his long experience of work in executive positions and respect among the people”, the parliament said in a statement.
Mr Mirziyoyev, who was born in 1957, had been designated mourner-in-chief – seen as an indication that he might take over.
The Diplomat magazine said Mr Mirziyoyev is, like Mr Karimov, part of the Samarkand clan of tribal loyalties.
News of Karimov’s death was finally confirmed last Friday following days of rumours.
A United Nations report described the use of torture under Mr Karimov as “systematic”.
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Karimov had often justified his strong-arm tactics by highlighting the danger from Islamist militancy in the mainly Muslim country, which borders Afghanistan.
