State Security Service detains governor with $60,000

On June 30 this year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during a meeting with young people, emphasized that regional and district governors should treat every child as their own and remain attentive to their health, education, behavior, interests, dreams, and problems. Governors, as representatives of the executive branch, serve not only the youth but also safeguard the rights and interests of all citizens in their regions. However, the conduct of some district leaders raises the question: “How much trust can be placed in governors today?” Last year, arrests of “acting governors” involved in bribery became widespread. In the comments on a video report by QALAMPIR.UZ, viewers noted that governors themselves should also be scrutinized, as they are often at the center of such cases. In 2025, governors appear to be actively involved in similar corrupt activities. This report examines one such case.

In early July, the State Security Service detained the former governor of Sharof Rashidov district, Mahmud Kholbutayev, in Jizzakh. Investigators found that a chief specialist in the district governor’s office—responsible for construction, communications, utilities, ecology, and landscaping—gained the trust of the head of an LLC in the construction sector and demanded $30,000 in exchange for permission to build eight multi-storey buildings on a 1.7-hectare plot. This land had been allocated by the district governor for the construction of a secondary school in the Tokchilik municipal district. On July 5, the chief specialist handed $10,000 of the bribe to Kholbutayev. On July 8, he collected the remaining \$20,000 from the entrepreneur and presented him with documents from the governor authorizing the construction.

The chief specialist later met Kholbutayev outside the mayor’s office and was arrested while handing over $10,000. Kholbutayev, arrested on July 8, was stripped of his parliamentary immunity, and a criminal case was opened against him under Article 210 of the Criminal Code (bribery). The chief specialist faces charges under Articles 168 (fraud) and 211 (bribery).

An unusual development followed Kholbutayev’s arrest. It was discovered that decisions continued to be issued in his name, with five of these decisions posted on the E-Decision platform.

For instance, a resolution of the District Council of People’s Deputies dated July 8, 2025, allocated 42 million soums to the District Improvement Department for arranging the central street and purchasing flags to organize a high-level event on May 9, the Day of Memory and Honor. The same resolution provided 70 million soums for slate to repair roofs of multi-storey buildings in need of renovation. Another resolution on the same day allocated 150 million soums to cover debts incurred for office supplies, equipment repairs, and household purchases to strengthen the district administration’s material and technical base.

Resolutions dated July 9 allocated 100 million soums to support the material and technical base of the district’s family and women’s departments, 200 million soums for constructing a mini-football field with artificial turf in the Otchopar area of the Tokchilik mahalla, 400 million soums for renovating the Department of Culture building in Kulpisar mahalla, and 255 million soums to cover debts for office supplies, equipment repairs, and household purchases for the district administration.

Such circumstances have raised the question of the need to investigate not only the district leadership but also the activities of the District Council of People’s Deputies.

The regional prosecutor’s office issued an official statement, confirming that the Sharof Rashidov district prosecutor’s office is conducting pre-investigation inquiries. The adoption of any legal decision based on the collected evidence remains under the oversight of the regional prosecutor’s office.

Before the public could fully absorb the case involving the misdeeds of one district governor and local officials, another governor became the focus of attention. Namangan city governor Anvar Otakhojaev was caught accepting a $60,000 bribe.

Investigators found that Otakhojaev, in collusion with the head of a shoe manufacturing LLC, demanded $60,000 from a citizen who intended to engage in entrepreneurial activity in the construction sector. The payment was in exchange for the right to build a multi-storey building on a 35-hectare plot in the city and secure financing for the project.

During an operation conducted by the State Security Service, the LLC head was initially detained with material evidence while receiving the requested sum. The operation continued, ultimately halting the governor’s illegal actions when he received \$60,000 through another trusted individual—the head of the administration’s office.

The head of the Namangan city government has since been stripped of his parliamentary immunity. The Investigation Department of the Namangan Regional State Security Service has initiated a criminal case against him and the head of his office under Article 210 (bribery), Part 3, Clause “a” of the Criminal Code. The LLC head faces charges under Article 168 (fraud), Part 4, Clause “a,” and Articles 28 and 211 (giving a bribe), Part 3, Clause “a” of the Criminal Code.

Reports indicate that Otakhojaev has been taken into custody as a precautionary measure. Other illegal activities by the governor will also be subject to legal review as part of the ongoing investigation.

Anvar Otakhojaev had been serving in this position since December 18, 2023.

To ensure accountability, we also report on another recent case involving a district official. The chief specialist of the agricultural department in Zangiota district, Tashkent region, was caught accepting a $20,000 bribe. He had demanded $40,000 in exchange for registering an 8-hectare plot of land—located next to a private residence and within the state reserve—in the name of a local citizen to facilitate entrepreneurial activities.

The specialist was detained by the State Security Service and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General’s Office while receiving $20,000 of the bribe.

A criminal case has been initiated against him under Article 168 (fraud), Part 4, Clause “a,” and Article 28, 211 (bribery), Part 3, Clause “a” of the Criminal Code. He has been placed under arrest as a precautionary measure, and investigative actions are ongoing.

These cases reflect recent developments over the past few months. Authorities hope that governors and other officials will act with integrity and refrain from abusing the trust placed in them by the state and the public. Newly appointed governors are expected to learn lessons from these incidents.