State Security Service (Uzbekistan)

The State Security Service (SSS) (Uzbek: Davlat Xavfsizlik Xizmati or DXX), formerly the National Security Service (NSS) (Uzbek: Milliy Xavfsizlik Xizmati or MXX), is the principal intelligence agency of Uzbekistan. It is responsible for national security, intelligence gathering, counterintelligence, and combating terrorism and extremism.

The SSS's origins lie in the Soviet-era KGB, and it retained significant personnel and operational methods after Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991. It has been criticized for its extensive powers, lack of transparency, and alleged human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, and suppression of dissent.

The organization underwent a significant reorganization and renaming in 2018, transitioning from the MXX to the DXX under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This restructuring aimed to improve the agency's efficiency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law. Despite these reforms, concerns remain regarding the SSS's influence and its impact on human rights and civil liberties within Uzbekistan. The agency reports directly to the President of Uzbekistan. The current Chairman is Ikhtiyor Abdullayev. Its headquarters are located in Tashkent. Key responsibilities include safeguarding constitutional order, protecting state sovereignty, combating organized crime, and ensuring cybersecurity.