Uzbekistan plans registry of people convicted of corruption

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan's Anti-Corruption Agency has submitted for public discussion a draft Cabinet of Ministers resolution on maintaining a registry of people found guilty of corruption crimes. The public discussion will continue until 2 September.

Under the draft, people included in the registry would face a number of restrictions while they remain on it. In particular, they would be barred from entering public service and from being nominated for state awards.

Those included in the registry would also be prohibited from standing as candidates for elected positions and positions filled through special appointment procedures. They would also be unable to serve on public councils under state bodies or on interagency collegial bodies.

The proposed restrictions would also apply to participation in public procurement and public-private partnership agreements. This would concern cases where a business entity was established by a person included in the registry or where that person owns more than 50% of its charter fund or capital.

Such individuals would also be prohibited from holding executive positions in organizations in which the state owns more than 50%, as well as in state educational institutions.

At the same time, a person's inclusion in the registry and the related legal consequences would not constitute grounds for restricting the rights of their relatives.

The draft also provides for consequences for employment relationships. If it is established that an employee has been included in the registry, this would constitute grounds for terminating the employment contract at the employer's initiative in accordance with Uzbekistan's current Labour Code.

The creation of such a registry was provided for by a presidential decree dated 6 July 2021, but it has not been launched to date.

In September 2024, Anti-Corruption Agency Director Akmal Burkhanov said that the relevant draft law had been prepared in early 2022 and agreed with ministries and government agencies in 2023.