Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov has once again attracted public attention due to his participation in an advertisement.

On 4 July, a video was posted on the official page of Kokand University, in which the minister encourages young people to enroll in the university’s branch in Andijan.

According to Article 16 of the Law on Advertising, it is prohibited to state in promotional materials that a product or service is endorsed by government bodies or officials. Therefore, any measures could only be taken against the university.

Had the video been posted by the minister on his personal accounts, it would have been considered a violation of the law.

The Agency for Public Administration Efficiency is authorized to assess the actions of the government official.

Additionally, Article 13 of the Law “On Civil Service” explicitly prohibits officials from engaging in other paid activities (except teaching, scientific, or creative work) and from receiving rewards or gifts for performing—or failing to perform—their official duties.

This is not the first incident: in 2024, Nazarbekov appeared in an advertisement for a men’s clothing store. At that time, the Committee for Competition Development found the store in violation of advertising law and fined it 23.8 million soums. The minister himself bore no responsibility, as he was not formally the advertiser or distributor.