Head of ESD, CED officer, and lawyers detained for bribery (video)

Officials and lawyers have been detained in Navoi and Surkhandarya regions, as well as in Tashkent city, for soliciting bribes. The State Security Service reported the incidents.

In particular, the head of the Emergency Situations Department (ESD) of Kiziltepa district, Navoi region, used his official position to demand a 3,000-dollar bribe. He allegedly requested the money in exchange for providing a positive conclusion on the fire safety compliance of a trade and service complex in the district, based on an application received through the my.gov.uz unified interactive state services portal. During an operation, the official was detained in his office while receiving the bribe.

A criminal case has been opened against him under Article 210, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, and he has been placed in custody as a preventive measure.

In another case in Surkhandarya region, the deputy head and a state executor of the Jarkurgan District Compulsory Enforcement Department (CED) were detained. They allegedly abused their official positions by demanding 600 dollars from a citizen born in 1993 to lift a travel ban imposed within an enforcement proceeding, and 10 million soums from an agricultural enterprise specializing in cotton and wheat production to prevent its land plots from being put up for auction. Both were detained while receiving the money.

A criminal case has been initiated against them under Article 168, Part 3, Paragraph “v” of the Criminal Code, and an investigation is ongoing.

Additionally, in Tashkent, the illegal actions of two lawyers—one from a law bureau and another from a bar association—were uncovered. The two allegedly planned to earn illicit income by exploiting their professional positions. They demanded 14,000 dollars from a resident of the Olmazor district, born in 1989, who was facing criminal charges under Article 168, Part 4, Paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code. The lawyers promised to use their connections to have the preventive measure of detention changed to house arrest. They were detained in the Olmazor district during a special operation while receiving the requested money, with material evidence seized at the scene.

A criminal case has been opened against both lawyers under Articles 168, Part 3, Paragraphs “a” and “v,” and 28 in connection with Article 211, Part 2, Paragraph “b” of the Criminal Code. They have also been placed in custody.

It is worth noting that earlier, in the Andijan region, a deputy hokim was detained for accepting a 15,000-dollar bribe.