The key facts

  • The deputy khokim of Pakhtabad District and a cadastre official were detained at the moment of receiving $30,000 out of the agreed $100,000.
  • The case concerns a 50-sotka land plot from the khokimiyat's reserve, which was planned to be sold at an online auction at an undervalued price.
  • The case was opened under the article on fraud (part 4, art. 168) and on complicity in bribery (art. 211 via art. 28 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan).

Detention While Receiving Part of the Sum

In Andijan Region, two officials were detained: the deputy khokim of Pakhtabad District and an employee of the district branch of the Chamber of State Cadastres. According to the State Security Service, they conspired and, using their official position, gained the trust of a citizen who intended to engage in entrepreneurial activity.

Scheme With a Land Plot

According to the State Security Service, for assistance in acquiring a land plot of 50 sotka, which was in the reserve of the district khokimiyat, the officials demanded $100,000 from the entrepreneur. The plot was to be registered in his name through an online auction at an undervalued price — the officials promised to ensure victory in the bidding. The detention took place during an operation carried out jointly by State Security Service and General Prosecutor's Office Department officers, at the moment of receiving $30,000 out of the agreed sum through a third party.

Criminal Case and Investigation

A criminal case has been opened against the detainees under subparagraphs 'a' and 'g' of part 4 of Article 168 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (fraud, including using one's official position on an especially large scale), as well as under subparagraph 'a' of part 3 of Article 211 via Article 28 (complicity in giving a bribe on an especially large scale). Investigative actions are underway; it is too early to draw conclusions about the detainees' guilt — the charges are based on data from operational activities.

Series of Similar Cases Across Regions

This is not the only recent detention of a deputy khokim on suspicion of bribery. In October, the deputy khokim of Kosonsoy District in Namangan Region was detained while receiving 65 million soums for assistance in installing solar panels. In addition, the deputy khokim of Tashkent District was charged with receiving $25,000 from an entrepreneur. These cases point to a consistent practice of the State Security Service publishing reports on the detention of district-level officials, although each of them is a separate proceeding with its own circumstances.