State Security Service Chief pledges to President to eradicate corruption

In 2025, 1,083 employees of state institutions in Uzbekistan were dismissed over corruption allegations, and 661 of them were held criminally liable. The figures were cited by Chairman of the State Security Service, General Colonel Bakhodir Qurbоnov, during an expanded meeting of the Security Council chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on January 13, focused on strengthening the country’s military security and defense.

“Despite efforts to eliminate the threat of corruption, cases of abuse of office, bribery, extortion, and other corruption-related crimes continue to persist within supervisory and law enforcement bodies, as well as other state structures. Last year, 1,083 employees linked to corruption and other crimes were removed from the system. Of them, 661 were held criminally liable and convicted,” Qurbоnov said.

He noted that everyday, or petty, corruption continues in government agencies, organizations, and institutions. According to him, this is largely driven by the high level of human involvement in relationships where corruption risks exist and the limited implementation of digital systems.

Qurbоnov said that in 2026 the main focus would be placed on digitizing functions and processes where corruption risks are present, eliminating legal loopholes, raising legal awareness among the population, and organizing practical and outreach activities aimed at fostering zero tolerance for corruption.

For reference, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index published at the beginning of 2025 (based on 2024 results), Uzbekistan’s position remained unchanged, ranking 121st out of 180 countries.

It is worth recalling that in his address to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis on December 26, 2025, President Mirziyoyev said that 2026 would be an extraordinary year for the fight against corruption in the country. Addressing officials directly, he warned:

“Those who think, ‘I have a position and a title, no one will touch me,’ are mistaken. Everyone is equal before the law. The security service, internal affairs, the prosecutor’s office, tax authorities, customs, finance, banks, major state companies, ministries, and local administrations—in short, not a single agency or organization will remain outside oversight. Anyone who obstructs the work of compliance services will be regarded as an accomplice to corruption, and liability will be determined accordingly.”

The president also said that starting January 1, all agencies would introduce a deputy position responsible for compliance and internal anti-corruption control, and that a representative of the Accounts Chamber would be assigned to oversee operations. These officials will be tasked with identifying dishonest individuals within the system, preventing the misappropriation of budget funds and abuse of office, and reporting directly to the president.

Despite the government’s declared commitment to fighting corruption and public exposure of bribery cases on social media and television, many citizens say corruption has not decreased in everyday life and social relations.

No sign of the law

A presidential decree stated that starting January 1, 2022, a mandatory declaration system would be introduced for the income and property of public officials, leaders and deputy leaders of organizations with more than 50 percent state ownership, as well as state enterprises and institutions, including their spouses and underage children. Officials said that senior figures’ assets would finally be audited and that not only the officials themselves, but also their relatives, would no longer be able to accumulate unexplained wealth.

However, the law has yet to be adopted. The draft law “On Declaring the Income and Property of Public Officials” was to be developed by the Anti-Corruption Agency and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. According to information provided by the Anti-Corruption Agency to QALAMPIR.UZ, in August–September 2021 the draft was reviewed through preliminary and inter-agency coordination with the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Tax Committee, the Supreme Court, the Agency for the Development of Public Service, the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, the Ministry of Finance, and the Central Bank, and was refined based on their proposals. The draft law was submitted to the Presidential Administration on November 1, 2021, and to the Cabinet of Ministers on November 13. However, no result has followed.

In a presidential decree signed on April 21, 2025, titled “On Measures to Ensure the Effective Implementation of Priority Tasks Set to Further Improve the Anti-Corruption System,” it was stated that the draft law “On Declaring the Income and Property of Public Officials” was to be prepared by May 2025. However, no outcome has been reported to date.