Corruption among deputy governors. Bribery cases continue across Uzbekistan

"Study, my child; don’t fall short,

Stand tall, stay dry.

Be true to yourself —

Don't fall victim to the governor's greed."

These lines shared humorously among the public, touch on the troubling news of deputy governors in Uzbekistan being implicated in bribery scandals.

As 2024 draws to a close, instances of bribery, position manipulation, and preferential treatment through powerful connections continue unabated. Recently, reports have surfaced almost weekly of deputy or assistant governors caught in bribery schemes. A common pattern emerges officials demanding bribes for land leases, property transfers, and favorable loan allocations.

With the recent arrests of numerous deputy governors, the public has started to question, "Why are only deputy governors being arrested? Are governors themselves free from blame?" This article delves into recent bribery cases involving officials and questions the accountability of those in higher office.

In June, the deputy governor of Sayhunabad district in Syrdarya was arrested after requesting bribes totaling $25,000 for providing a land lease and permissions for a light construction project. During the transaction, the deputy governor was apprehended with the requested amount in hand.

In July, deputy governors in Andijan, Tashkent, and Karakalpakstan were similarly implicated. In one case, a Takhiatash district official, tasked with construction and ecology, demanded 35 million soums in exchange for demolition approval for a citizen’s property and subsequent material sale rights. In Andijan, the head of a farming council requested a $20,000 bribe to transfer 10 hectares of land for export-related agriculture.

In Tashkent’s Boka district, the head of the Emergency Situations Department requested $2,500 to authorize an apartment building’s occupancy certificate, which he intended to partially pass on as a bribe to the district’s deputy governor. Both were caught red-handed.

August saw additional arrests, including assistant governors in Tashkent and Jizzakh. In Orta Chirchik district, an assistant mayor demanded $15,000 for a land lease, while a deputy in Gallaorol district was caught accepting a bribe to facilitate employment in a district medical association.

Just yesterday, the deputy governor of the Tashkent region was detained for allegedly demanding $2 million to facilitate a 49-year land lease for a large commercial development project. He was caught after receiving half the bribe amount through an intermediary.

In Kashkadarya’s Dehqonabad district, the deputy governor was caught requesting $5,000 for signing off on a construction acceptance document, while an employee from the regional State Engineering Service requested an additional 15 million soums to issue supporting documents.

A notable case in Navoi involved the head of a company soliciting a 20 million soum bribe to secure a loan with assistance from a local mayor’s aide. In Syrdarya’s Khovos district, the deputy governor attempted to extort $20,000 from an agricultural LLC in exchange for protection of its irrigation activities and operations.

The above cases, which have resulted in numerous arrests and criminal charges, represent only a portion of the corruption unveiled so far. In addition, the Prosecutor General’s Office recently released statistics on official crimes, providing detailed accounts of corruption among regional officials. A comprehensive video report is available on QALAMPIR.UZ’s YouTube channel.

As the government works to clamp down on corruption, many hope these cases serve as a deterrent, encouraging officials to resist bribes and fulfill their duties ethically. Only time will tell if the tide will turn, but for now, the public watches closely, hoping for an end to abuses of power.