Contracts valued at 573 billion soums were discovered to have been arranged through personal connections

Earlier today, on June 7, the Anti-Corruption Agency held a press conference addressing the "Conflict of Interest" law. Akmal Burkhonov, the agency's director, highlighted contracts secured through personal relationships over recent years.

“While the "Conflict of Interest" legislation delineates such conflicts and outlines penalties for implicated civil servants, prior to this, there were no legal means for prosecuting such cases in our laws, leaving them unaccountable. This deficiency has rightfully drawn public criticism, underscoring the urgent need for the law's implementation. "Gaps in legislation create avenues for corrupt activities linked to conflicts of interest," he emphasized.

Burkhonov disclosed that in 2022-2023, contracts worth 4.5 trillion soums were sealed amid conflicts of interest. Additionally, 2,720 contracts valued at 141 billion soums were found to have been agreed upon by internal audit services of ministries and agencies, with nine contracts fetching exorbitant prices of 3 billion soums.

The conference also addressed another contentious issue—the involvement of state employees and officials in business activities. Reportedly, over the recent period, approximately 1,500 governors, their deputies, and assistant governors have been involved in the management of business entities.

"Incidents of such nature have even been identified among individuals holding high-ranking positions in ministries and agencies. Media outlets and social networks have also played a role in highlighting these instances. I am confident that the enforcement of the recently enacted "Conflict of Interest" law and the establishment of accountability for such conflicts will help curb nepotism and corruption in public service. This, in turn, will bolster public trust in government institutions," stated the agency's director.