On the evening of June 2, 2026, Surkhandarya Region Governor Ulughbek Qosimov received a suspicious phone call from an individual claiming to be a representative of the presidential administration. The caller reportedly demanded administrative assistance for an Afghan businessman seeking permission to construct a multi-story residential building on the site of the 'Diplomat' restaurant in Termez. Subsequent investigations revealed that the caller was actually 38-year-old I.J., who served as a department head within the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change.
Key Takeaways: Ecology committee department head I.J. abused his position to make a fraudulent call on behalf of the central authorities to benefit an acquaintance. The local court found the state employee guilty of misconduct and sentenced him to a term of imprisonment.
This case underscores persistent structural issues within the administrative apparatus, where mid-level officials allegedly attempt to leverage the authority of higher offices to bypass local regulations. Observers note that such practices reflect deep-seated bureaucratic friction and the misuse of political leverage for commercial gains, challenging the transparency promoted by the central authorities.
During the trial, the defendant acknowledged making the phone call under a false identity to the regional governor, despite otherwise contesting parts of the formal charges. The Afghan businessman had reportedly sought to develop a 50-sotik plot near the regional administration building, but local authorities had consistently denied the construction permits, prompting the developer to enlist his former neighbor who held a government post.
Legal experts suggest this verdict serves as a warning against unauthorized lobbying within state structures, though systemic questions regarding bureaucratic integrity remain largely unaddressed as authorities pursue further oversight measures.
Source: kun.uz