“Shameful budget”: it is said that 10,000 soms were collected from pupils 

A video showing 10,000 soms being collected from elementary school pupils in the Tashkent region to collect votes for an “Open budget” was circulated on social networks.  The footage shows young children being sent home to fetch money during classes.  The press service of the regional government responded to the situation.

It was reported that the pupils of the 17th school in “Bayguli” neighborhood, Akkurgan district, Tashkent region, were not allowed to attend classes, but sent to their homes to bring money ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 soms to buy a SIM card.

“This interpretation of the “Open budget” campaign, which is widely popular today and is becoming the voice of the people, cannot be justified with the use of children,” said the hokimia’s message.

According to reports, the situation was controlled by Otabek Sultanbekov, the deputy governor of the region, and the investigation began.

It should be noted that Hilola Umarova, the Minister of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, commented on the fact that some school teachers were given a mandatory task to collect votes for the “Open budget” project through social networks, and this situation is serious on the part of the Ministry and therefore, being studied.

Later, on 24 March, a video was circulated on social networks showing teachers of school 36 in the Angor district of Surkhandarya region, being forced to vote for “Open budget.”  The General Prosecutor’s Office stated that this situation is being investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office of Surkhandarya region.

In addition, on 25 March, the press service of the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced that the practice of introducing the identification mechanism using Face ID in voting for “Open budget” is being considered.  Later, Minister Sherzod Qudbiyev issued a video message and denied this news.