Nearly 75% of recorded corruption cases in Uzbekistan occur in everyday interactions between citizens and local authorities—highlighting the urgency of a more preventive approach to combating this persistent issue.
On July 29, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a new set of anti-corruption measures designed to address these systemic problems, particularly at the district and city levels. He stressed that while law enforcement agencies have made progress, corruption remains a daily burden for many residents.
“The main causes of this evil are often ignored, and we are only fighting the consequences,” the press service noted. “Preventive work is still not sufficient.”
Following a March 5 meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Council, a presidential decree issued on April 21 established a department within the Prosecutor General’s Office to analyze corruption risks. This department now conducts field research in the regions to identify structural loopholes and root causes.
Over 200 experts at the Law Enforcement Academy and the Prosecutor’s Office Research Center are engaged in this work, alongside more than 100,000 law enforcement officers focused on prevention.
Despite these efforts, bureaucracy and “corrupt loopholes” remain in local administrations, cadastre services, banks, and tax offices—places where people interact with the state most frequently.
The president criticized the performance of the 43 control agencies and compliance units within ministries, calling for more effective oversight. He also emphasized that evaluations of state agencies should be based not just on the number of corruption cases resolved, but on how many were prevented.
Land allocation was singled out as an area where transparency reforms have not fully taken hold. Illegal actions persist despite digital systems being introduced. President Mirziyoyev urged the use of integrated data from cadastre databases, Uzbekkosmos, construction, and other agencies to eliminate remaining gaps.
He also called for the full digitalization of the prosecutor’s office and the introduction of “digital control” across all areas of public administration to reduce opportunities for corruption.
At the meeting, officials provided updates on progress and challenges. The agenda also included proposals made earlier by the National Anti-Corruption Council, such as reducing the use of direct contracts in public procurement, investigating corruption risks at the neighborhood level, and fostering a culture of intolerance to corruption among young people.
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