Society news

Competent authorities are conducting investigative actions regarding the embezzlement of a large amount of funds in one of the regional branches of the People's Bank. This was reported by Upl.uz. According to preliminary information, an employee of the Bank service center located in the Yangikurgan district of Namangan region is suspected of embezzling 9.5 billion soums. According to an official statement from the financial institution's press service, this case was identified during a planned audit conducted by the bank's internal security service in April 2025. The investigation revealed that the employee used their position to illegally interfere with the bank's software and embezzled funds through this means. The management of the People's Bank emphasizes that a continuous comprehensive program is being implemented to combat and prevent corruption. After a deficit was identified as a result of the internal audit, all materials were promptly submitted to the relevant law enforcement agencies. Currently, a criminal case has been initiated against individuals involved in this economic crime based on the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The relevant authorities are conducting necessary investigative and operational measures to identify all circumstances and establish the full scope of individuals involved in the crime. Details of the suspects and the embezzlement scheme are not being disclosed in consideration of the investigation's interests. The issue of cybercrime remains pressing in Uzbekistan's financial sector. From 2021 to 2024, the total damage caused to citizens by cybercriminals exceeded 1.9 trillion soums. It has been reported that more than 98 percent of these attacks are related to fraud through bank cards. This situation once again highlights the need to strengthen financial security and enhance cybersecurity measures.

A serious disagreement is emerging between the students of the capital's medical university and its administration in Tashkent. This was reported by Upl.uz. The dispute centers around the issue of sending students to continue their studies in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on a mandatory basis. Students emphasize that they consider this region unsafe and feel forced to accept such a decision against their will. The university administration completely denies these accusations, deeming them a slander against the institution. This situation became widely known to the public after a video appeal recorded by students of Tashkent State Medical University circulated on social media. In the video, students express that they are being forced to go to Nizhny Novgorod for studies, stating that they consider this region unfavorable from a safety perspective. Their discontent is primarily related to a promise previously made by the former rector regarding the possibility of transferring them to higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, which has not been fulfilled. Students claim that with the arrival of the new rector Shukhrat Boymurodov, these promises have been revoked, and they were offered two options – either to continue their studies in Russia or to take an academic leave. At the same time, they are asking for the opportunity to complete their fifth year in Uzbekistan, as the deadlines for transferring to other higher education institutions have already passed. The press service of Tashkent State Medical University responded promptly to this situation. In an official statement, the disseminated information was deemed "unverified and unfounded." The university's comment emphasized that sending students to Privolzhsky Research Medical University is planned within the framework of a joint educational program that has been in effect since 2021. A separate contract has been drawn up for each student, clearly outlining the terms of study. It was also noted that more than 400 students from Uzbekistan are successfully studying at Privolzhsky Research Medical University. The university reminded that students accepted under the joint program have taken lighter exams. The official denial clearly indicated that the claims of "mandatory sending" and referring to Nizhny Novgorod as a "military zone" do not correspond to reality. The statement said: "The majority of program participants wish to continue their studies at Privolzhsky Research Medical University, and many are ready for travel. Only some students are trying to stay in Tashkent by violating the terms of the contract and relying on false information. Those spreading false information are deliberately distorting facts, misleading the public, and attempting to discredit the university administration and its staff. Such actions may lead to liability under the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan." Joint educational programs between various state higher education institutions are a widespread international practice aimed at increasing academic mobility. According to data for the 2023-2024 academic year, Russia ranks among the top five countries in the world for the number of foreign students, and students from Uzbekistan are one of the largest groups studying there.

According to the press service of the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs Traffic Safety Department, appropriate measures have been taken against the individual who violated traffic rules. This was reported by Upl.uz. The video that circulated on social media shows a driver of a "Lacetti" brand car moving along the stairs in Tashkent city. Following this incident, an investigation was conducted by the internal affairs authorities, and the identity of the violator was determined. According to the identified information, the violator modified the driving part of the car, replacing the seat part of the "Lacetti" with spare parts taken from a "Mercedes-Benz" vehicle. After this action, the idea of recording the video emerged. However, the violator did not consider the consequences of carrying out this illegal action. Administrative documents have been formalized against the violator regarding the incident. No detailed information has yet been provided about the specific measures taken by the internal affairs authorities. This incident once again reminds us of the importance of adhering to traffic rules.

A man who fell into a 25-meter deep well was rescued on August 13 at around 10:20 in Fergana region. This was reported by Upl.uz. The incident occurred in the Gulbok neighborhood of the Khonkiz village in the Fergana district. It was reported that the man fell into the well while cleaning it and subsequently lost consciousness. The Fergana region's Emergency Situations Department reported this. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and set up special rescue equipment. The rescuer connected the man to a breathing apparatus and brought him back to consciousness. Then, he carefully pulled him out of the well and handed him over to the emergency medical staff. Currently, the victim's condition is satisfactory. The Emergency Situations Department expresses gratitude to the staff for their timely and effective actions at the scene. It is important to take precautions when cleaning wells to prevent such incidents. Rescue services are always ready and strive to save human lives.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations provided information through its press service. This was reported by Upl.uz. On August 13, at around 13:00, a report was received by the Surkhandarya regional emergency management about a fire at a liquefied gas filling station located in the "Okkurgon" neighborhood of the Shurchi district. At 13:07, eight fire and rescue teams arrived at the scene and began to extinguish the fire. Within one minute, the fire was localized, and by 13:16 it was completely extinguished. According to preliminary information, the fire occurred due to a violation of technological rules during the process of filling propane gas through a tanker. The exact causes of the fire and the amount of material damage will be determined during the investigation. Leaders of the regional and district emergency management agencies arrived at the scene. The emergency management agency did not provide information about any casualties.

According to the press service of Uzenergoinspektsiya, a significant amount of damage has been identified at this time. This was reported by Upl.uz. During the monitoring activities conducted by the staff of the Tashkent region Uzenergoinspektsiya, it was found that the residents of the Tashkent district had illegally connected to the gas supply. This individual used a rubber hose to connect to supply gas to their kitchen voluntarily. According to preliminary calculations, this illegal action has caused 799 million soums in damage to the gas supply organization. Relevant documents regarding this case have been formalized and sent to the investigative authorities. Under Article 165, part four (theft) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the offender may face a penalty of up to 15 years of imprisonment. Initial investigative actions are being carried out regarding this case.

According to the press service of the State Security Service, three girls have been arrested for reviewing and distributing banned extremist materials. This was reported by Upl.uz. It has been determined that these girls, born in 2004-2006, were under the influence of promoters of international terrorist organizations. One of them found banned content on the "YouTube" platform, created her own Telegram channel, and shared materials filled with radical ideas with her friends. The second girl, influenced by the promoters, covered her head and got acquainted with an unknown person through "TikTok," from whom she received extremist content. Due to this influence, she developed the idea of going to Syria. The third offender became engrossed in radical ideas through "YouTube," wanted to wear a hijab, and distributed extremist materials on social networks. Currently, these three girls are being considered as defendants during the trial and are awaiting their sentences. This case once again highlights the importance of combating extremism in our country. Public cooperation is necessary to protect parents and youth from such negative influences.

According to the press service of the Tashkent region police, illegal activities have been stopped in the region. This was reported by Upl.uz. Special operational measures were carried out by the internal affairs officers. During these measures, three illegal cases of religious education were identified. In particular, a 33-year-old man living in the Tashkent district was found to be providing religious education to 13 children at his home, a 42-year-old man in a rented private house in the Bostanliq district was found to be teaching 20 children, and a 36-year-old woman living in the Yuqorichirchiq district was found to be providing religious education to 6 minors in the basement of her residence. Measures were taken against these individuals, as well as against parents who were not fulfilling their obligations to raise their children, in accordance with the law. The internal affairs authorities remind offenders that violating the procedure for providing religious education leads to criminal liability under the article "Violation of the procedure for teaching religious beliefs" of the criminal code. For this crime, a penalty of up to three years of imprisonment may be applied, and it is imposed after administrative penalties. Thus, everyone must understand their responsibility before the law and conduct their activities legally

The State Security Service reports that a counterfeit currency circulation has been seized, according to the press service. This was reported by Upl.uz. Special operational measures were carried out in cooperation with the service employees and the Kokand city department of the Prosecutor General's Office. During the operation, a local citizen born in 2003 was detained, who sold 50 million soums of counterfeit money to an undercover buyer for 8 million real soums. During the search of his residence, various denominations of counterfeit banknotes were found, including 50,000, 100,000, and 200,000 soums, as well as counterfeit 100 dollar banknotes. A total of 315.5 million soums and 120,000 dollars in counterfeit money were seized. A criminal case has been initiated regarding this incident, and investigative actions are underway. The counterfeit funds have been confiscated as evidence.

The Verkh-Iset District Court of Yekaterinburg announced a court decision regarding the illegal transportation of a large quantity of timber products planned to be imported into Uzbekistan. This was reported by Upl.uz. A 41-year-old foreign citizen was found guilty of organizing a scheme for the illegal export of valuable timber. During the trial, it was revealed that this individual illegally transported a large quantity of coniferous timber in May 2023. The crime was committed in two stages, on May 7 and May 18. He used false documents when crossing the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union and provided incorrect information in the customs declaration. The total volume of illegally transported timber exceeded 210 cubic meters and is considered a strategic resource in the Russian Federation. According to experts' calculations, the market value of this timber is equivalent to 2.1 million rubles. The court charged the crime under part 1 of article 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, namely for smuggling goods of significant importance in large quantities. The court reviewed the case materials and issued a guilty verdict, taking into account the opinion of the state prosecutor. The defendant was fined 500,000 rubles. Additionally, funds amounting to 2.1 million rubles, equivalent to the full value of the smuggled cargo, were confiscated and transferred to the state revenue of Russia. In some regions, space monitoring technologies are widely used to detect illegal logging and smuggling. High-resolution satellites record changes in forest cover, allowing for the rapid detection of illegal logging activities.

The Social Protection Agency held a selector meeting in the form of a video conference. This was reported by Upl.uz. The meeting discussed the urgent issues of social integration of vulnerable groups in society. The main focus was on the mechanisms for entering higher education institutions and subsequent employment through state quotas. These opportunities are particularly important for orphaned children, graduates of specialized schools, and citizens with disabilities. According to official information provided by the agency, there are 3,434 higher education graduates with disabilities in the country. Of these, 54 percent are employed, which indicates that there are still some barriers to achieving full professional activity. At the same time, an analysis of the employment of orphan graduates shows that nearly one-third, or 32 percent, of the 280 graduates with higher education found jobs in public services. The meeting paid special attention to the results of the admission campaign for the 2025/2026 academic year. Within the framework of the state quota, more than a thousand orphans and children deprived of parental care had the opportunity to pass entrance exams to higher education institutions. Participants emphasized that not all candidates can enter higher educational institutions. Therefore, it was noted that there is a need to develop alternative pathways for vocational training and employment. The "Youth Mentorship" program is actively implemented to support young people who could not enter university. This program provides targeted assistance to orphans up to 25 years old through the "Mehr Daftari" electronic platform, organizing housing and employment for them. At the end of the meeting, it was stated that the agency's strategic goal is to create equal conditions for every citizen, regardless of their social status, to fully realize their personal and professional potential and to ensure their rightful place in the structure of modern society.

According to the press service of the Tashkent region Department of Internal Affairs Traffic Safety Management, a case of storing psychotropic drugs has been identified. This was reported by Upl.uz. During the "Safe and Healthy Country" month held in the Yangiyul district, traffic safety inspectors stopped a "Matiz" brand vehicle, and the driver, a man born in 1971, was subjected to inspection. During a search conducted in the presence of witnesses in the car's cabin, 8 red and white "Zardeks" capsules, which are strong-acting drugs, were found. Relevant documents have been formalized regarding this case. The man may face criminal liability under Article 251-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This article refers to crimes related to the production, distribution, advertising, demonstration, or illegal circulation of strong-acting substances, narcotic drugs, their analogs, or psychotropic substances. This situation requires legal measures to be taken.

The government is planning to introduce a new incentive system to improve tax discipline in neighborhoods. This was reported by Upl.uz. As part of this initiative, neighborhoods will be ranked based on the level of taxes paid by taxpayers. Each of the top hundred neighborhoods in the ranking will receive targeted funding of 2 billion soums, which will be used for local infrastructure development projects. This was announced by Ilhom Norkulov, the First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, on the “Uzbekistan 24” television channel. He provided detailed information about the new measures adopted as a result of a meeting chaired by the head of state on August 11. The main topic of this meeting was to reduce the size of the shadow economy in the country. According to Norkulov, the situation was thoroughly analyzed before the proposals were developed. Recommendations from prestigious international financial organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as reports from auditing firms like Ernst & Young, and special studies on the shadow economy conducted under the UN Development Program were taken into account. Additionally, practical inspections were carried out in the regions, and a package of proposals was formed in five key areas. “Most of the proposals were discussed, and the president gave relevant instructions,” Norkulov said. In particular, the National Statistics Committee was tasked with improving the methods for assessing the indicators of the shadow and informal economy. The second important area is to create an effective incentive system for taxpayers. The deputy minister quoted the president's words: “We need to implement tax payments through incentives and motivation. It is important to create a system where paying taxes is inherently beneficial.” In this context, a neighborhood ranking is being introduced. This system will be integrated with the “Initiative Budget” program. Norkulov emphasized that a special coefficient will be added to the voting mechanism for projects. Neighborhoods with a higher number of taxpayers will have a significant advantage. Moreover, in addition to directly financing infrastructure projects, benefits will be provided to citizens who maintain high levels of tax discipline. Residents of neighborhoods where tax payments are made correctly will have priority in preferential mortgages and educational loans. The government is also continuously improving the “Initiative Budget” mechanism. For example, neighborhoods that have won twice on the Open Budget portal will not be able to apply in the second half of 2025 and the first half of 2026, which is aimed at ensuring equal opportunities. The neighborhood institute in Uzbekistan is considered one of the oldest forms of social governance in the world, with a history of over a thousand years. Today, approximately 10,000 neighborhoods are active across the country. Neighborhoods play a crucial role not only in providing social support to the population but also in implementing state programs at the local level.

A large fire occurred on the night of August 11 in the area of the "Uch Qahramon" market near Tashkent. This was reported by Upl.uz. As a result of the fire, a significant portion of the shopping complex was damaged. According to official information from the Tashkent region's Department of Internal Affairs, the fire covered approximately 40 percent of the market area. The regional Department of Internal Affairs' investigation department immediately opened a criminal case regarding this incident. The investigation is being conducted under part "b" of article 259 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This article provides for liability in the event of serious consequences resulting from violations of fire safety rules. Currently, the investigation team is taking all necessary measures to determine the exact causes of the incident. Once the investigation is completed, the results will be presented to the public. The total area of the shopping complex in the market is 20 thousand square meters. Thanks to the rapid cooperation of firefighting and rescue services, the spread of the fire was prevented, and stores and buildings in an area of 12 thousand square meters were able to be preserved. Most importantly, there were no reported injuries or fatalities among civilians or emergency service personnel as a result of the incident. The signal about the fire was received by the control point of the Ministry of Emergency Situations at 02:22. Five minutes later, at 02:29, the first firefighting and rescue units arrived at the scene. A total of 10 main and special technical means were involved in extinguishing the fire. It took more than two hours to completely eliminate the open flames. According to unofficial sources, the largest damage in the market was mainly inflicted on the clothing department. The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to the abundance of flammable products and possibly the lack of permanent fire barriers between the trade pavilions. This led to many stores being completely burned down. According to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, special measures must be developed and implemented in places where many people gather, including large markets, in accordance with fire safety rules. These measures include the existence of evacuation plans, the operational readiness of means to extinguish the fire in its initial stages, and ensuring free access for special equipment.

The press service of the Ministry of Energy reported that the illegal use of natural gas has been stopped. This was reported by Upl.uz. Control measures were conducted in the Akdarya district of Samarkand region in cooperation with law enforcement officers and specialists from the gas supply organization. During the event, it was revealed that the kitchen of a public catering point located in the territory of the "Navro'z" neighborhood citizens' assembly was illegally connected to the gas supply. It became known that the responsible persons of the organization connected all necessary equipment to the gas network without permission and using a rubber hose intended for ordinary water. Relevant documents were formalized regarding this situation. The total amount of damage is 1 billion 244 million soums. The documents were submitted to law enforcement agencies. Criminal liability may be initiated against the guilty persons under Part 4 of Article "Theft" of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This means they could face a penalty of up to 15 years of imprisonment.

The American star Jennifer Lopez's concert in Tashkent was not only an important event for Uzbekistan's cultural life but also brought significant economic benefits. This was reported by Upl.uz. According to the Cultural and Art Development Fund, this event showcased the country's potential to host large-scale international events. The concert held on August 7 at the "Milliy" (Bunyodkor) stadium was part of the "Up All Night: Live in 2025" world tour and holds historical significance as the first concert of an AAA-level artist in Uzbekistan. More than 31,000 spectators attended the event. Among the 25,000 tickets sold, 67 percent were purchased by foreign tourists. Their number reached 15,330, mainly consisting of visitors from Russia (around 9,000), Kazakhstan (about 2,500), as well as those from Europe and the USA. This helped increase the occupancy of capital hotels by 25.7 percent compared to the same period last year from August 5 to 8. Alongside tourism activity, the concert also had a significant impact on the city's economy, generating over 42.5 billion soums in tax revenues. This situation also stimulated the development of the restaurant and hotel business. For example, on August 7, the Chilonzor metro line carried 16,500 more passengers than usual. A total of 115 companies participated in organizing the event, providing high-quality service that included 18 dining areas. To ensure security and order, 3,800 law enforcement officers, 300 volunteers, and 500 individuals responsible for area cleanliness were active. The Cultural and Art Development Fund highly appreciated the organization of the event and noted that it was much more orderly and efficient compared to previous major events.

The governor of Tashkent region, Zoir Mirzayev, sharply criticized the leaders for being inactive on social networks and emphasized that such officials have no future. This was reported by Upl.uz. This statement was made on August 11 during the "Governor's Hour" event. Zoir Mirzayev noted that some governors are afraid of criticism and negative reactions on the internet, which prevents them from taking initiative. In his opinion, such a perspective is incorrect. The governor said: "Are we only going to praise the governors? If someone is criticized several times, it will benefit them and they will become more mature. A person who knows their job is not afraid of anything. A governor who is inactive on social networks has no future. Where will you run, where will you hide? You cannot escape from every camera. They can post your photo and criticize you. You need to learn to accept this, to accept criticism." According to Zoir Mirzayev, openness and readiness to communicate with the public through social networks are essential qualities for a modern leader. He was appointed as the governor of Tashkent region in November 2021. In his first meeting, he set priority tasks and requested not to use the word "respected" when addressing him. Zoir Mirzayev consistently demonstrates his openness. He regularly appears in public, and the press service regularly publishes videos from his meetings and sessions of the people's deputies council.

In the first half of 2025, the number of foreign citizens arriving in Uzbekistan for tourism purposes reached 783,700. This was reported by Upl.uz. This figure has increased by 255,100 people or 48.3 percent compared to the same period last year. According to the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the total number of foreign citizens visiting the country for various purposes in the first six months of 2025 was approximately 5.3 million. This figure has increased by 1.7 million people or 48.9 percent compared to the same period last year. According to statistical data, the main reason for foreign citizens' visits is to visit relatives. This group includes 3,596,799 people. Those arriving for tourism purposes are in second place, totaling 783,696 people. In January-June 2025, foreign citizens arriving in Uzbekistan for tourism purposes were distributed as follows: visiting relatives — 3,596,799 people; tourism — 783,696 people; business trips — 594,023 people; those arriving for commercial purposes — 223,581 people; those arriving for medical treatment — 48,557 people; those arriving for educational purposes — 9,546 people. This data shows that Uzbekistan is becoming an increasingly attractive country for foreign visitors. With the development of the travel and tourism sectors, service and business trips are also continuing to grow.

The protection of intellectual property in the Republic of Uzbekistan is being elevated to a new level. This was reported by Upl.uz. The law numbered ZRU-1080, adopted on August 8, 2025, will introduce amendments and additions to certain legislative documents. These changes aim to simplify the process of state registration and to strengthen responsibility for violations in the field of intellectual property. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. One of the main innovations of the law is the automatic granting of patents for industrial property objects through an electronic system. Previously, the granting of patents for industrial property objects would take place 10 days after the information about registration was published in the official bulletin. Now this process will be expedited. Additionally, the law provides for increased penalties for violations of intellectual property rights. This applies not only to the production of counterfeit products but also to cases related to the illegal use of trademarks, inventions, and copyrights. These measures will serve to ensure legality in the field of intellectual property.

In the first half of 2025, the volume of fish catch in Uzbekistan significantly increased. This was reported by Upl.uz. This information is based on data from the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The total volume of fish catch amounted to 53.2 thousand tons, which is 9.4 percent more than the same period last year. The largest share belongs to farms, which provided 27.1 thousand tons of the total catch. Agricultural organizations also showed high results, catching 23.1 thousand tons of fish. Farmers and auxiliary farms caught 3.0 thousand tons of fish. These figures confirm the development of the fishing industry in the country and the effectiveness of the activities of farmers and agricultural organizations. This, in turn, is of great importance for ensuring food security and generating additional income for the economy. Additional measures are planned to further develop the fishing industry in the future.