Tashkent Tax Inspectors Arrested for $5,000 Tender Bribery

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Two tax inspectors in Tashkent have been arrested in a sting operation after allegedly demanding $5,000 from an entrepreneur to guarantee his victory in a commercial property tender — caught in the act of receiving the cash.

The State Security Service (SSS) confirmed that officers from its Tashkent city department, operating jointly with the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, launched the investigation following a tip-off received through the SSS public call center. The complaint named two inspectors from the Yunusabad district tax authority.

According to investigators, the pair conspired to demand the bribe in exchange for ensuring the businessman would win an open tender for the lease of three commercial premises belonging to the Chilonzor Buyum Bozori Kompleksi company, and for facilitating the execution of the required contracts. The inspectors were detained at the moment of receiving the funds.

A criminal case has been opened and investigative proceedings are underway. Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the case at this stage.

The arrests follow a broader pattern of targeted anti-corruption operations in Uzbekistan's public sector, where the SSS call center has increasingly served as a direct channel for citizens and businesses to report official misconduct.