Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The fifth plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan focused on the key tasks facing the Senate and local Kengashes of People’s Deputies in implementing the priority areas outlined by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the meeting of the National Council on Anti-Corruption.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in developing a regulatory framework and implementing institutional reforms aimed at preventing corruption. The country has adopted around 10 laws, 10 presidential decrees and resolutions, two government resolutions, over 20 departmental documents, and two state programs.

Among the key legislative initiatives is the adoption of the Law "On Combating Corruption," which defines the main directions of state policy in this area. The Law "On Public Civil Service" has reformed the public administration system, introducing mechanisms to mitigate corruption risks. Additionally, the Law "On Anti-Corruption Expertise of Regulatory Legal Acts and Their Drafts" has established a system for expert evaluation of legislation to identify potential corruption-related risks.

A major step in institutional reform was the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Council and its regional branches, as well as the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Agency, a specialized body responsible for developing and implementing anti-corruption policy. Furthermore, internal compliance control structures have been introduced in 117 government bodies and organizations, including banks.

Despite notable progress, participants of the session highlighted several challenges in combating corruption. Key concerns remain in the healthcare, employment, and banking sectors. In 2023 alone, there were 527 recorded cases of corruption in healthcare, 447 in employment, and 434 in the banking system.

Special attention was given to the rise of petty (everyday) corruption, particularly at the local level, including in mahallas, where citizens face corruption-related issues when connecting to infrastructure, obtaining licenses, securing preferential loans, and seeking employment. Additionally, the effectiveness of regional anti-corruption councils was deemed low, as they lack sufficient engagement with local communities.

The law enforcement sector was also criticized, with senators noting that authorities are primarily focused on detecting and prosecuting corruption cases rather than preventing corruption and addressing its root causes.

Senators emphasized the need to strengthen efforts in the following areas:

Enhancing the legislative framework for combating corruption;

Improving preventive measures in the regions, including eliminating petty corruption;

Developing an individualized approach to working with individuals convicted of corruption-related offenses;

Raising public legal awareness and fostering zero tolerance for corruption;

Radically improving the effectiveness of regional anti-corruption councils.

Following the discussions, the Senate adopted a resolution aimed at implementing priority measures to combat crime and prevent corruption.

The document outlines a comprehensive set of measures to be implemented in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies to eliminate existing shortcomings and further strengthen Uzbekistan’s anti-corruption policy.