[67424] Uzbekistan: Exposure of corruption amounting to 23 billion soums in government tenders

Exposure of corruption in government tenders in Uzbekistan

This past weekend, the existence of irregularities and serious legal violations in the government procurement system was revealed in Uzbekistan, involving a total financial scope of over 23 billion soums. The investigation found that tender procedures managed by several government entities included actions designed to illegally restrict competition.

According to a report by Daryo | Rasmiy kanal, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the Youth Affairs Agency, and the Agency for Innovative Development are the bodies where deficiencies were found. As a result of these findings, according to Daryo, senior officials from those ministries who were responsible for the procurement procedures have been prosecuted.

The news channel Kun.uz detailed the financial breakdown of the affected tenders in its report:

• Youth Affairs Agency: 6 tenders totaling 9.1 billion soums.


• Agency for Innovative Development: 6 tenders totaling 8 billion soums.


• Ministry of Preschool and School Education: 10 tenders totaling 6.7 billion soums.

The two Uzbek media outlets, considered key sources of information in the country covering public sector affairs, note that the actions taken in these tenders were "contrary to the law" and included maneuvers intended or potentially leading to the restriction of fair competition among suppliers. This affair constitutes another link in the efforts of authorities in Uzbekistan to tighten oversight of government budgets and reduce systemic corruption.