Firdavs Fridunovich Abdukhalikov
Director of the Centre of Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan,
Chairman of the Board of WOSCU,
Author of the largest book series on the cultural and historical heritage of Uzbekistan.
Biography:
Firdavs Fridunovich Abdukhalikov was born on August 10, 1963, in Samarkand. He is the great-grandson of the Jadid writer Mirzo Kokamboy Abdukhalikov on his father’s side, and the great-grandson of industrialist and philanthropist Mirzo Abdullo Bukhari on his mother’s side.
Education:
• 1980 – Graduated from School No. 16 in Samarkand
• 1980–1985 – Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Philology, Samarkand State University
• 2001–2007 – Master’s degree from the Faculty of Economics, Samarkand State University
• 2023 – Awarded a Doctorate for his dissertation on “Artistic Interpretation of Historical Figures in Medieval Eastern Miniature”
Professional Career and Projects:
• Began his career as a teacher at Vocational School No. 33 in Samarkand after graduation.
• In 1987, appointed Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at the Samarkand Printing Vocational School.
• In 1988, became Head of the Samarkand Regional Youth Centre, launching several pioneering projects, including the establishment of the first youth television studio in the republic.
• In 1990, founded and headed the first non-governmental television and radio company in Uzbekistan — STV (Samarkand TV), which began broadcasting in March 1991.
• In 1996, initiated and founded Darakchi newspaper — the first non-governmental print media outlet in Uzbekistan.
• In 1998, appointed Deputy Chairman of the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan.
• In 1999, elected as a Member of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2nd Convocation.
• In 2002, founded the capital city radio station Poytaxt in Tashkent.
• In 2003, established and chaired the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan (NAEMMI), the country’s largest association of independent TV and cable networks.
• In 2015, curated and produced the first laser 3D-mapping show in Uzbekistan at the Registan architectural ensemble in Samarkand.
• In 2018, elected Chairman of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU).
• In 2019, appointed Director-General of the National Agency “Uzbekkino,” which was later transformed into the Cinematography Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2021.
• In 2024, appointed Director of the Centre of Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan.
Academic and Research Contributions
Firdavs Abdukhalikov is the author of numerous books, scholarly articles, and facsimile publications of historical manuscripts, with a focus on cultural heritage, epigraphy, art history, and cartography.
Book Series:
· Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the Collections of the World (80 volumes)
· Architectural Epigraphy of Uzbekistan (20 volumes)
Books on Art History and Miniature Painting:
· Kamal al-Din Behzad: He Who Shamed Mani
· By the Shores of the Aral and Amu: Art of the Karakalpaks
· Masterpieces of Uzbek Art: Ceramics
· Masterpieces of Uzbek Art: Fine Arts
· Masterpieces of Uzbek Art: Metalwork
· Masterpieces of Uzbek Art: Textiles
· Historical Figures of Uzbekistan in Eastern Miniature
Books on Ethnography:
· Ceramics of Rishtan
· Guardians of Timeless Traditions
Books on Cartography:
· Historical and Cartographic Representations of Uzbekistan
Facsimile Editions:
· Kattalangar Quran
· Diwan-i-Husayni (Collected Poems of Husayn Bayqara)
· Rawzat al-Safa (The Garden of Purity)
· Zafarnama (The Book of Victories of Amir Temur)
· Kitab Suwar al-Kawakib (Book of the Fixed Stars)
· Mi‘rajnama (Book of the Ascension)
Titles and Awards
State Honors:
· Honored Journalist of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2011) — For longstanding contributions to the development of national media.
· Order of Labor Glory (2018) — For outstanding contributions to the economy, culture, and public welfare.
International Titles:
· Honorary Professor of VGIK (Russian State Institute of Cinematography) (2023) — For contributions to cinema education and support of young professionals.
· Honorary Academician of the World Academy of the Word (2024) — For contributions to the preservation and development of global cultural traditions.
International Awards:
· Avicenna International Award (2019) — For achievements in medicine, education, and enlightenment.
· Korkut Ata International Film Festival Award (2021) — For contributions to Turkic world culture.
· Korkut Ata International Film Festival Award (2023) — For contributions to the development of Turkic cinema.
· Turan International Film Festival Award (2024) — For contributions to the advancement of global cinema.
International Honors and Awards
· Badge of Distinction in Cinematography of the Republic of Tajikistan (2021) — for significant contributions to the development of cinema in Central Asia.
· Medal named after Academician Christian Friedrich von Fren, Russian Academy of Sciences (2023) — for contributions to the field of academic Oriental studies.
· Centennial Jubilee Medal "100 Years of VGIK" (2023) — for active participation in the life and development of the university.
· TÜRKSOY Medal (2023) — for contributions to the culture and arts of the Turkic world.
· TÜRKSOY Gold Medal (2024) — for outstanding contributions to the culture and arts of the Turkic world.
International Diplomas and Certificates
· Honorary Certificate of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus (2021) — for fruitful cooperation and strengthening bilateral cultural ties.
· Honorary Certificate of the Commonwealth of Independent States (2022) — for personal contributions to the development of cinematography in the CIS region.
· Honorary Certificate of the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg (2022) — for contributions to culture and the arts, professional excellence, and public outreach.
· Honorary Diploma of the Eurasia International Film Festival (2022) — for notable contributions to the development of the Eurasian film festival movement.
Governmental Awards (Republic of Uzbekistan)
· Badge of Uzbekistan (2000)
· Commemorative Medal “10 Years of Uzbekistan’s Independence” (2001)
· Commemorative Medal “20 Years of Uzbekistan’s Independence” (2011)
· Commemorative Medal “25 Years of Uzbekistan’s Independence” (2016)
· Commemorative Medal “25 Years of the Constitution of Uzbekistan” (2017)
· Commemorative Medal “30 Years of Uzbekistan’s Independence” (2021)
· Commemorative Medal “30 Years of the Constitution of Uzbekistan” (2022)
Ministerial and Departmental Awards
· "Honor" Award of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2018)
· Badge of Merit “Devoted to Tourism” of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (2021)
· Commemorative Medal “30 Years of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan” (2021)
· Badge of Honor “For Cooperation” of the General Prosecutor’s Office (2022)
· Badge “80th Anniversary of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan” (2024)
· Badge of the Committee for Religious Affairs “Religious Tolerance” (2024)
· Second Badge of the General Prosecutor’s Office “For Cooperation” (2024) — for support in the establishment of the Museum of the History of the Prosecutor’s Office.
· Badge “For Cooperation” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (2025)
Public and Professional Recognition
· Grand Prix of the National “Oltin Qalam” Journalism Award (2011)