Kholbutayev caught with $10,000, President stuck in traffic jam, “propiska” restriction being abolished – Weekly Analysis

A governor in Uzbekistan has been caught accepting a bribe. What makes this case particularly notable is that he had previously been arrested on similar charges. Meanwhile, the President criticized the growing traffic congestion in the country, yet the population in Tashkent continues to rise daily. The recent decision to abolish restrictions on obtaining permanent registration—commonly known as “propiska”—in the capital is expected to further increase traffic density. The issue of repatriating Uzbek citizens who fall victim to crimes abroad and ensuring the protection of their rights remains a pressing concern. The latest edition of Weekly Analysis on QALAMPIR.UZ covers these and other significant developments.

Ban on registration in Tashkent being lifted

The document that has symbolized localism in Uzbekistan for over a decade—the law “On the List of Categories of Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan Subject to Permanent Registration in the City of Tashkent and Tashkent Region”—is now being repealed. This means that citizens from any region of Uzbekistan will soon be eligible to obtain permanent registration in Tashkent and the Tashkent Region.

As is known, the law was adopted 14 years ago and allowed only 12 specific categories of citizens to obtain permanent "propiska" in Tashkent. International experts have widely criticized this as a violation of human rights. There have also been long-standing complaints that those who moved to the capital to study or work were often treated as outsiders, forced to wander from street to street and office to office, facing expulsion and discrimination.

In recent years, purchasing property and obtaining a residence permit in Tashkent has become much easier. Unlike the early years of independence, Tashkent is no longer functioning as a separate “country within a country.” On July 11, 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a new law titled “On the Registration of Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Foreign Citizens, and Stateless Persons by Place of Residence and Stay.” The law was approved by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on October 15, 2024, and by the Senate on January 24, 2025. It will come into force on October 12, 2025.

Under the new law, any citizen of Uzbekistan will have the right to obtain permanent registration. In contrast, under the 2011 law still currently in effect, only 12 categories of citizens—such as homeowners, close relatives, guardians, children under custody, and certain government officials and their families—were eligible for permanent residence registration. This outdated restriction conflicted with Article 32 of the updated Constitution, which guarantees the right of every person residing in Uzbekistan to move freely and choose their place of residence within the country.

The new law also reduces the allowed period of stay without registration from 15 working days to 10 working days. Additionally, citizens, foreign nationals with permanent residence, and stateless persons will be able to submit applications for registration online—either via the Unified Interactive State Services Portal, the migration and citizenship departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or at public service centers.

President is unhappy with traffic jams in Tashkent

In recent years, the number of permanent residents in Tashkent and the Tashkent region has steadily increased. According to official statistics, as of July 1, the population of Uzbekistan has reached 37.9 million, with more than 3,145,200 people living in the capital, Tashkent. The permanent population of the Tashkent region stands at 3,134,100. Compared to January 1, 2022, the population of Tashkent has grown by 284,700, while the Tashkent region has seen an increase of 192,500 people.

These figures reflect only official statistics and do not include those who have come to the capital for study, work, or temporary and seasonal labor—including porters and informal workers. In reality, the population is much higher. As a result, traffic congestion and pressure on public transport continue to intensify. Even President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has expressed frustration over traffic jams in Tashkent.

The head of state addressed the issue during a July 9 meeting on road safety.

Although the president has raised the issue, traffic congestion in the city is not solely due to an increase in the number of vehicles. Poorly planned infrastructure also contributes to the problem. Traffic lights are often installed where roundabouts would suffice, and the timing between red and green lights is poorly balanced. In some areas, traffic lights are spaced just 30–50 meters apart. Speed limits are frequently restricted to 50 or 60 km/h. Drivers are further burdened by the fear of traffic cameras at nearly every intersection, with fines issued even for crossing between green and yellow lights.

This environment has made drivers overly cautious and hesitant, leading to confusion and accidents—especially when some stop prematurely in fear of being fined. Road quality is also a problem, with potholes and damaged surfaces common. Additional confusion is caused by the placement of parking or movement restriction signs, particularly near administrative buildings or properties owned by influential individuals. Roads and parking spaces are often unnecessarily cordoned off.

The president acknowledged these challenges and discussed potential solutions at the meeting.

It was reported that 9,364 road accidents occurred in Uzbekistan in 2024, resulting in 2,203 deaths. The president emphasized that an average of six people die in road accidents every day—a deeply alarming figure.

Another major issue is the high frequency of vehicle-pedestrian collisions. Pedestrians being hit or stepping unexpectedly onto roads is common. If pedestrian crossings—particularly in Tashkent—were redesigned as overpasses or underpasses on major roads and placed at shorter, more accessible distances considering age and mobility, the rate of such accidents could significantly decrease.

During a visit to Germany, I once expressed concern to a bus driver about the speed of the vehicle. He pointed to the solid barriers separating the lanes and said, “Pedestrians have no business on this road. If someone steps onto it and gets hurt or killed, it’s entirely the pedestrian’s fault.” In Uzbekistan, however, pedestrian rights are often prioritized to the extent that drivers are seen as adversaries. This isn’t to justify careless driving, but reducing unnecessary interaction between drivers and pedestrians is essential for safety.

The president also addressed this issue during the meeting. It was noted that out of more than 10,000 pedestrian crossings in the country, only 154 are overpasses or underpasses. Therefore, by October 1, a study will be conducted to assess the compliance of international roads—such as the Tashkent–Samarkand–Termez, Tashkent–Valley, and Samarkand–Bukhara routes—with road safety standards. By the end of the year, a feasibility study will be prepared on how many pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, modern reflective road signs, and road markings are needed.

The meeting also discussed the gradual phasing out of old vehicles in Uzbekistan. Responding to this, Alisher Kadyrov, chairman of the Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party, said that retiring cars aged 40–50 years is a commendable initiative, and even reducing the limit to 25–30 years would be acceptable. However, he emphasized the need for affordable options to replace old cars.

He also supported the initiative to improve the training of internal affairs officers, calling it a critical and long-overdue reform.

“This field should be staffed by highly educated, professional, and exemplary individuals—not the nephews or neighbors of ministry officials. Society should take pride in its uniformed personnel. Order is essential, everyone depends on it. But it cannot be maintained without clear rules and enforcement,” said Alisher Kadyrov, chairman of the Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party.

Head of Fergana Regional Traffic Safety Department dismissed

When discussing issues like nepotism, cronyism, and localism in Uzbekistan’s institutions, it’s important to recognize that these are long-standing problems. Their consequences don’t become apparent in the morning—they surface by evening.

Last week, a story circulated widely on social media alleging widespread lawlessness and corruption within the Fergana Regional Traffic Safety Department. Reports claimed that over 100 traffic violations committed by a Malibu-2 vehicle were unjustifiably canceled, bringing attention to nepotism involving a senior official.

The focus quickly turned to Lieutenant Colonel Akmal Ahmedov, head of the Traffic Safety Department under the Fergana Regional Internal Affairs Department. It was alleged that the driver whose violations were canceled is a close relative of Ahmedov. As a result, Ahmedov was dismissed from his post.

His dismissal was ordered by the Minister of Internal Affairs. According to the ministry, Ahmedov attempted to illegally conceal traffic violations committed by a Malibu-2 vehicle bearing license plate number 40 081 SBA. The full amount of the fines was recovered by the state.

Further investigations are ongoing to fully assess the legal implications of the case. While Ahmedov has now been dismissed, it raises a troubling question: How did he manage to cancel such a large number of violations over time without being stopped? This situation implies that traffic camera reports—meant to be tamper-proof—can still be overridden by human interference. And if Ahmedov did it, who’s to say he was the only one?

Governor and deputy prosecutor caught taking bribes

The misconduct of officials and their trusted aides continues to make headlines. In the past week, the governor of the Sharof Rashidov district in the Jizzakh region and the deputy prosecutor of Gulistan city were caught accepting bribes.

According to investigators, the chief specialist of the Sharof Rashidov district government promised the head of a construction company that he could obtain permission to build eight multi-storey buildings on a 1.7-hectare plot of land originally allocated for a school. This was allegedly arranged through a decision issued by district governor Mahmud Kholbutayev. The price of this illegal service was set at $30,000.

On July 5, the specialist accepted $10,000 from the businessman and passed it to Governor Kholbutayev. Then, on July 8, he took the remaining $20,000 and handed over official documents signed by the governor allowing construction to proceed.

However, as the specialist met with Governor Kholbutayev in front of a government building to deliver the remaining $10,000, both were caught by officers of the State Security Service.

Kholbutayev has since been stripped of his parliamentary immunity, and a criminal case has been launched against him under Article 210 (Accepting a bribe). The chief specialist is being charged under Articles 168 (Fraud) and 211 (Giving a bribe).

Notably, this is not Kholbutayev’s first time facing prosecution. In 2012, during the first administration, he was also charged with bribery. Previously, he served as the mayor of Dustlik district in the Jizzakh region in 2004 and was later appointed a senator of the Oliy Majlis. In October 2019, he became mayor of the Sharof Rashidov district and was awarded the Order of Friendship in honor of Uzbekistan’s 33rd independence anniversary.

In a separate case in Syrdarya region, the deputy prosecutor of Gulistan city was also caught accepting a bribe. Using his position, he demanded $10,000 from the head of an agricultural company facing charges under Articles 168 (Fraud) and 167 (Embezzlement) of the Criminal Code. In return, he promised to prevent the application of a pre-trial detention measure and ensure a favorable resolution to the case initiated by the Investigation Group of the Boyovut District Internal Affairs Department.

During a sting operation carried out by the State Security Service, the deputy prosecutor was detained in his office while accepting the bribe. A criminal case has been opened against him under Article 168 (Fraud) and Article 28 in conjunction with Article 211 (Bribery).

In both cases, the suspects have been placed under the preventive measure of arrest, and investigations are ongoing.

The deputy governor of the Beruni district in the Republic of Karakalpakstan was also caught red-handed. He was detained while accepting $12,000 from the head of an LLC specializing in the processing of licorice roots. In exchange, the official had promised to allocate 150 hectares of land in the Beruni district for licorice root cultivation.

Meanwhile, the adoption of the long-anticipated law “On the Declaration of Income and Property of Civil Servants” remains delayed in Uzbekistan. The draft, prepared by the Anti-Corruption Agency, was meant to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. According to the agency, the draft law underwent initial review and coordination in August–September 2021 with numerous state bodies, including the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Supreme Court, the Civil Service Development Agency, the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Central Bank. The draft was finalized with revisions based on their feedback and was submitted to the Presidential Administration on November 1, 2021, and to the Cabinet of Ministers on November 13. Since then, there has been no sign of progress. The continued delay in adopting this law widens the opportunity for bribery and corruption among officials and civil servants.

Criminal group caught in the “Farhod” market

Every region in Uzbekistan has its own well-known markets. In Tashkent, for example, the "Malika" household appliances market and the "Farhod" car spare parts market are particularly busy. These places are often filled with "shustriy"—a term borrowed from Russian to describe aggressive dealers or brokers. At the “Farhod” market, even a routine visit to replace a steering wheel cover can result in someone dismantling your steering wheel without permission and trying to force you into buying a replacement. If you refuse, you may be harassed or pressured into compliance. Last week, 12 such individuals operating at the Farhod market were caught.

The State Security Service dismantled the activities of a criminal group consisting of 12 individuals operating in the "Automobile Spare Parts" market located on Farhod Street in the Uchtepa district. The group reportedly installed various components and performed technical services on customers’ vehicles without their consent or prior agreement. In one case, after providing a service that normally costs around \$600, the group demanded $13,300 from the customer, resorting to threats and intimidation when he refused to pay.

In another incident, the group fitted spare parts to a customer's vehicle without consent and demanded payment at three times the actual cost. They also seized the customer's car keys and extorted 15 million soums through coercion.

In total, the group took around 70 million soums from two additional victims for the installation of extra vehicle parts—work which they never completed.

All 12 individuals have been detained by the State Security Service. A criminal case has been launched under Articles 165 (Extortion) and 168 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code. A preventive measure of detention has been applied to all suspects. Investigators are working to uncover additional criminal acts committed by the group and to identify other victims.

Most members of the criminal group were born between 1988 and 2002 in Tashkent, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions. The majority of them have previous criminal records.

Two underage girls die by suicide in Khorezm

In a tragic incident in the city of Urgench, Khorezm region, two underage girls died by suicide after jumping from the roof of a multi-storey residential building.

The Prosecutor General's Office informed QALAMPIR.UZ that on July 7, at approximately 08:15 a.m., the Urgench city police department received a report that two individuals had jumped from the roof of a seven-story building on Nurli Hayot Street.

An initial investigation revealed that the girls were born in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The Urgench city prosecutor's office has launched a preliminary investigation to determine the circumstances and motives behind the incident.

16-year-old girl dies after rhinoplasty in Samarkand

A 16-year-old girl who underwent nose surgery at a hospital in Samarkand has died, according to a statement made by the girl’s mother to QALAMPIR.UZ.

The mother reported that on July 1 of this year, her daughter, born in 2009, visited the Central Regional Hospital with her grandmother due to difficulty breathing. Doctors advised that she undergo surgery. On July 3 at 11:30 a.m., the girl was taken in for the procedure. Throughout the operation, her grandmother repeatedly sought updates but was told the girl had not yet “regained consciousness.”

The mother stated that doctors later informed her that her daughter’s heart could not withstand the operation. However, she insists that her daughter was in good health and is now demanding accountability from those responsible.

It was revealed that the girl was studying medicine at a foreign university and had been visiting her grandmother during the holidays. Her parents were abroad at the time of the incident.

According to the Samarkand Regional Prosecutor's Office, a forensic medical examination has been ordered. To ensure a comprehensive and impartial inquiry, an internal investigation has also been launched into the conduct of staff at the regional multidisciplinary medical center. The Samarkand City Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing the pre-investigation process.

Uzbek woman was killed in Turkey

A 35-year-old Uzbek citizen working as a waitress in a restaurant in the Aydin province of Turkey died at the scene after sustaining a fatal head injury. The incident occurred on July 5. The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul has confirmed her death.

Five individuals suspected of involvement in the crime have been detained by Turkish law enforcement authorities. An investigation is currently underway.

Officials from the Consulate General and the Migration Agency’s Representative Office under the Cabinet of Ministers in Turkey are reportedly taking steps to repatriate the woman's body and to provide necessary assistance to her family in Uzbekistan.

However, several appeals received by QALAMPIR.UZ suggest that, despite official statements, the families of Uzbek citizens who become victims of crimes or fatal accidents abroad often receive little to no support in repatriating the deceased. Many claim that the financial burden falls entirely on relatives or acquaintances, while consulates and embassies merely assist with documentation.

Other complaints cite inadequate protection of the rights of Uzbek citizens abroad, particularly in countries like Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea. Families of victims report difficulty in obtaining justice and assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uzbekistan’s diplomatic missions.

One case frequently cited in public appeals is that of Nodira Kadyrova, a young Uzbek woman found dead on September 23, 2019, in the home of Turkish MP Shirin Ünal from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara. Official reports claim she died by suicide, having allegedly shot herself with a firearm in the deputy’s home.

However, Kadyrova’s family—particularly her brother and a friend who resides in Turkey—insist that she was a victim of sexual assault and did not take her own life. Despite significant public interest, including attention from activists in Turkey, the issue has not been addressed by Uzbek officials or widely covered in Uzbekistan’s media. Investigations and legal proceedings were handled exclusively by Turkish law enforcement, and there is no public information about whether Uzbekistan’s authorities collaborated with Turkish counterparts in the case. A Turkish forensic report concluded that Kadyrova died from a gunshot wound. Her relatives maintain that she was murdered and continue to seek justice.