Recent developments in Uzbekistan highlight significant administrative measures, ranging from utility debt adjustments to sweeping legislative reforms concerning public safety. Authorities report that unjustified utility debts amounting to 22 billion soms have been recalculated for approximately 800,000 citizens, addressing persistent grievances within the country's housing and communal sector.
In a parallel legal development, the leadership has enacted stringent punitive measures targeting crimes against minors. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reportedly signed a legislative package amending five codes and six laws to drastically increase penalties for sexual violence against children. Under the updated regulations, individuals convicted of sexual offenses against children under the age of 14 now face up to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment.
Furthermore, the newly introduced legal framework stipulates that there will be no statute of limitations for prosecuting such severe crimes, a move intended to close potential legal loopholes. State authorities have also pledged to guarantee free legal representation via state-funded attorneys for underage victims during criminal proceedings, reflecting heightened governmental focus on child protection issues.
However, the nation's financial sector continues to grapple with sophisticated criminal networks, as evidenced by a recent high-profile arrest in Tashkent. Law enforcement shut down a fraudulent syndicate that allegedly operated under the guise of bank representatives, systematically stealing citizens' funds and issuing unauthorized online loans in their names. Most concerningly, the criminal enterprise reportedly included an active cybersecurity employee from the headquarters of a major commercial bank.
According to investigative findings, five suspects established an illegal call center inside a rented non-residential facility in the Mirabad district. The syndicate allegedly laundered approximately 8 million US dollars obtained through criminal schemes by converting the funds into cryptocurrency and funneling them abroad via shell companies. Criminal proceedings have been formally initiated, though broader questions regarding internal bank security remain unaddressed.
Source: kun.uz