President expresses dissatisfaction with Anti-Corruption Agency

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has expressed complete dissatisfaction with the performance of Uzbekistan's Anti-Corruption Agency. Speaking at a Senate meeting on March 5, the President criticized the agency for failing to address corruption effectively.

During the expanded session, which focused on evaluating anti-corruption efforts and setting future priorities, Mirziyoyev noted that agency staff had become mere statisticians, counting criminal cases instead of analyzing specific sectors and proposing solutions. He pointed out that the agency's leadership had not visited areas with high corruption risks, such as district health departments, employment offices, or bank branches, nor had they offered modern system-based recommendations. The lack of initiative from sector leaders to create "corruption-free" systems was also criticized.

The President highlighted that increased oversight of investment programs in 2024 had saved 3 trillion soums, while the introduction of a "Situational Center" in the healthcare system prevented 1.2 trillion soums in unnecessary expenses. However, he questioned why such measures only began after direct presidential orders.

Mirziyoyev also criticized the lack of proactivity in parliamentary budget committees, which have failed to address corruption in the three ministries receiving the largest budget allocations annually.

Previously, the President had praised the creation of an open system for public discussion of corruption issues, emphasizing the growing role of mass media in this area. He noted that Uzbekistan's position in international transparency rankings had improved by 138 places, making it first in Central Asia and 30th globally.