Chairman, National Security Service Rustam Inoyatov of Uzbekistan

When Rustam Inoyatov was promoted to chairman of the National Security Service ten years ago, few suspected that he would manage to avoid President Karimov's system of checks and balances or that he would become the second most powerful man in the country.

Uzbekistan-friendly Germany led the push for the EU to drop the visa ban list, saying the register was out of date because Mr Inoyatov was the only one of the eight names still in office and citing Tashkents progress in human rights terms.

Inoyatov is reportedly backed by a Tashkent-based political clan, while Almatov support stems from Samarkand clans.

Inoyatov is reportedly backed by a Tashkent-based political clan, while Almatov enjoys the support of a Samarkand clan.

Inoyatov has commit a crime for Andijan massacre.

Just days after the Breininger video reportedly surfaced, Inoyatov was in Berlin for security discussions.

Inoyatov was one of several Uzbek officials banned from entering the European Union after the bloody events in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijon in 2005, when hundreds of protestors were shot to death by security forces.

Inoyatov was implicated in those deaths.

Rustam Inoyatov is the head of the SNB and has served in that capacity since 1995, making him the second-longest serving member of Karimov's Cabinet after Almatov.

Early in 2005, Inoyatov was given control of the customs service and the 10,000-strong border security services as well, nearly doubling the number of troops under his control.

Mr Inoyatov is one of eight names on an EU visa ban list, which was temporarily suspended in April and will permanently expire in November in line with an EU foreign ministers decision of 13 October.

Mr Inoyatov is considered by some analysts to be the second most powerful man in Uzbekistan today after 70-year old President Islam Karimov, and a strong candidate - together with Mr Karimov's daughter Gulnara Karimova - to lead the country in future.

Human rights progress?Uzbekistan-friendly Germany led the push for the EU to drop the visa ban list, saying the register was out of date because Mr Inoyatov was the only one of the eight names still in office and citing Tashkent's "progress" in human rights terms.