Uzbekistan is creating its own model for combating corruption

Published on EGF: 09.02.2024

by EGF Editor

Qodir Djuraev, MP, Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (national parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan

One of the most crucial issues in the rapidly changing world is undoubtedly corruption. The human history suggests that this phenomenon brought even the most powerful nations to the brink of collapse.

Corruption is a perilous misfortune with negative impact on the entire human race, on foundation of any state and society, economic development; it undermines rule of law and sharply weakens public confidence in government, hinders advancement of democratic institutions.

Unfortunately, this problem has not been alien Uzbekistan. Until very recently, the latter had been known as one of those countries with highest perceptions of corruption.

For example, in 2013 Transparency International ranked Uzbekistan 168th in Perception of Corruption Index, while in 2015 Open Data Inventory placed the country on the 167th position.

However, in recent years, the country has made considerable accomplishments owing to systemic efforts and political will of the head of state to root out corruption.

Complex measures are underway to deliver preventive mechanisms aimed at fending this disease off, securing openness and transparency in public administration, raising public services quality,and reducing human factor through digitilization.

Starting from 1 October 2021, anti-corruption compliance control units have been launched in all state bodies and organizations, resulting today in 1,370-man-strong such units operating effectively in 90 state organizations, including banks.

In particular, legal and institutional reforms have been in progress to combat corruption. Once Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the first law he signed was the Anti-Corruption Act (January 2017), indicative of his resolve on this front.

Over the past 5-6 years, Uzbekistan has adopted in excess of 90 normative acts designed to put an end to corruption-related factors across spheres, including more than 20 documents regulating the field of combating corruption.

Through adoption of three state programs to fight this evil (2017, 2019, 2021), the country introduced practice whereby measures are determined every year to be enforced in this direction.

In 2018, the Anti-Corruption Agency, a special authorized body accountable to the President and the National Parliament, was set up, to see its powers and resources enhance by time.

Given the human factor as principal cause of corruption, Uzbekistan introduced a principle “Not citizens, but documents circulate”. As a result, state service centers were instituted in all administrative-territorial units, that is, districts and towns, offering now about 350 types of state services for the population and corporate bodies.

Around 450 types of services have been provided online on the single interactive state services portal. Starting from 1 December 2023, forsaken was the practice of requesting 47 types of information from the population and business entities by state bodies and organizations.

In 2021, Uzbekistan became the third nation in Asia to follow South Korea and the Philippines to join the International Open Data Charter. The country has been effectively participating in the Istanbul Action Program, the Global Operational Network, the Eurasian and Egmont Groups, and many other platforms. Uzbekistan has been acting as Secretariat of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network in West and Central Asia.

These efforts are starting to yield tangible results. The country has risen by 47 positions (from 168^th in 2013 to 121^th in 2023) in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index and is now ranked highest in Central Asia in this respect. The government aims to improve the country’s position in this ranking by 50 positions by 2030.

In Open Data Inventory rating, Uzbekistan rose to 30^th rate in 2023. It now ranks 4th in the world in terms of access to open data sources. Anti-corruption forum was held in the country’s capital city for the past three years.

On 19 December 2023, Tashkent played hosted a ceremony of awarding high international anti-corruption award, established by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

During the important event, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev dwelled on a range of plans and tasks for international cooperation in combatting corruption.

In particular, National Strategy-2030 for combating corruption will be implemented.

Special emphasis is placed thereby on ensuring more transparency in the activities of state agencies and increasing their accountability, improving the open data system, consolidating its legal framework and institutional mechanisms, bolstering anti-corruption measures, and introducing a system of declaration of incomes and property by civil servants.

In addition, with active engagement of non-governmental organizations, a regional research center on corruption problems will be set up to share experience and boost communication, to conduct academic research.

Apart from that, the head of Uzbek state stressed the need to step up international interaction in countering corruption. Toward this end, new mechanisms are to be inaugurated building on international best practices, including a preliminary study of corruption cases – an institution of corruption investigation.

One of the priority challenges is to bring up a new generation whose minds and hearts are, figuratively speaking, immunized with ‘integrity vaccine’ from childhood. Particular significance is attached to educational programs in line with international standards.

Another critical challenge is to further support the Mass Media, which have a paramount role to play in such complex processes as combating corruption.

Besides, anti-corruption efforts will include scholarly research, practice of systematic conduct of social surveys, integration of capacities of state bodies and civil society institutions in opposing this hazardous phenomenon, and eliminating the human factor in the process of applying the norms of the law regarding the severity or mitigation of punishment.

In conclusion, Uzbekistan has demonstrated that it is creating its own model in combating corruption. Efforts are directed towards delivering a culture of honesty, transparency and accountability for everyone.

Crucially, clear-cut objectives have been set ahead, and every public servant, civil society institution representative, and citizens are tasked with contributing to the delivery of those goals. New ends are thus expected to be accomplished
as a result of joint efforts.

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