In Uzbekistan, courts handled 153 criminal cases related to corruption offenses in 2025, resulting in 252 deputy mayors (hokim yordamchisi) being held criminally liable. This information was reported by the press secretary of the Anti-Corruption Agency, citing data from the Supreme Court. Additionally, five deputy mayors faced other punitive measures, highlighting the government's purported efforts to combat corruption, though the scale of cases suggests deep-rooted systemic issues.

In an official statement, the agency claimed that it "supports the anti-corruption efforts of every state body and organization and is ready to provide methodological assistance in the future." While this rhetoric aims to reinforce the administration's policies, the high number of implicated officials raises questions about the effectiveness of existing anti-corruption frameworks and points to persistent governance challenges.

Previously, Marat Juraev, First Deputy Minister for Poverty Reduction and Employment, noted that in 2025, information about eight corruption cases involving deputy mayors spread online, causing public alarm, and that deputy mayors did not even rank in the Top 10 of the Anti-Corruption Agency's ratings. These incidents underscore the widespread nature of corruption and the risk of eroding public trust, despite official claims of progress.

Juraev stated that starting in February 2026, candidates for deputy mayor positions are undergoing test assessments to evaluate their stability in anti-corruption efforts. He said, "Depending on the test results, the position is then confirmed. If we started this experiment in February, 170 candidates have taken the test so far. If they fail the test, they are sent for retraining. This is being implemented jointly with the Leadership Assessment Center under the General Prosecutor's Office. Candidates are not appointed to this position until they pass the test." Although these measures are presented as a step forward, their actual impact on curbing corruption remains uncertain, given the ongoing prevalence of such cases.

Source: www.gazeta.uz