Society news

According to the press service of the Tashkent city customs department, on July 26, 2025, competitions in cyber sports began among the employees of the customs department in the capital. This was reported by Upl.uz. The competitions are mainly held among young employees. This event was organized to help young people spend their free time meaningfully and effectively, promote a healthy lifestyle, increase interest in information technologies, and strengthen team spirit and healthy competition. The game selected for the competitions is Counter-Strike 1.6, which has been popular worldwide for over 20 years. This game helps develop team spirit and fosters coordinated actions necessary for achieving a common victory. The participating employees are demonstrating their skills and strategic thinking abilities. Events like this are of great importance in enhancing the teamwork skills of young specialists and further engaging them in the field of modern technologies.

The Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan conducted an investigation into the power supply interruptions observed in various districts of Tashkent city on July 24-25. This was reported by Upl.uz. According to the national information agency UzA, systematic technical problems and organizational shortcomings were identified during the investigation process. The number of electricity consumers in Tashkent has exceeded 823,000, which is an increase of 47,600 compared to last year and 21,000 since the beginning of 2025. In the last three years, energy consumption in the city has increased from 7.6 billion kilowatt-hours to 8.7 billion kilowatt-hours, with an annual growth of approximately 9 percent. Due to only five operators serving the call center (1154), queues have reached up to 70 people. Currently, 10 additional staff members have been recruited. On July 23, no information was provided to consumers regarding 64 emergencies, and information regarding another 112 cases was delayed. After the investigation, notifications about the outages began to be published on the official websites of the local authorities and popular internet channels. The "Tashkent City Electric Networks" enterprise has 78 emergency brigades and 34 special vehicles, which is insufficient for the city. It has been determined that the number of employees is lacking by 35 units. Over the last three years, 30 percent of the company's staff, including 228 operational specialists, have left. Of the more than 9,700 kilometers of power lines, 2,500 kilometers (26 percent) are outdated. Out of 90 substations, 9 require modernization, and 2 need to increase their capacity. Out of 11 laboratory machines, only 2 operate throughout the night, which limits the ability to quickly address emergencies. A new 26 staff units (engineers and driver-laboratory technicians) are being introduced. The purchase of 10 modern laboratory machines is planned, each costing approximately 1 billion soums. Based on the investigation results, the head of "Tashkent City Electric Networks," 11 district department heads, 13 chief engineers, and 3 dispatchers, a total of 28 responsible individuals, have been held accountable. Monitoring continues to address the identified shortcomings.

According to the press service of the Traffic Safety Department of the Tashkent City Internal Affairs Directorate, a traffic accident occurred on July 26 at 01:00 on Nurafshon Street in the Shaykhontohur district. This was reported by Upl.uz. The driver of a "Spark" car, born in 2005, lost control and crashed into a lighting pole installed on the dividing part of the road. As a result of the accident, the driver sustained serious injuries and died at the scene. The passenger next to him, a person born in 2004, urgently needed medical assistance. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 266, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding this incident. Currently, investigative actions are ongoing. We once again emphasize the importance of adhering to traffic safety for all drivers.

The press service of the Ministry of Energy reported that illegal activities have been identified. This was reported by Upl.uz. Monitoring activities were conducted by law enforcement agencies to identify cases of illegal use of electricity. As a result, several special devices intended for cryptocurrency mining were found in the home of a resident of the Chust district. It has been revealed that the criminal illegally connected this equipment to the public network, causing damage to the energy supply organization. According to the preliminary assessment of specialists, the damage amounts to a total of 653 million soums. Relevant documents have been formalized regarding this case, and they have been submitted to law enforcement agencies to initiate preliminary investigation actions. The criminal may face up to 15 years of imprisonment under Article 169, part four (theft) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

According to the press service of the Department under the Prosecutor General's Office, individuals involved in the illegal sale of potent drugs have been detained. This was reported by Upl.uz. Special operational measures were carried out by the staff of the regional departments of the Department under the Prosecutor General's Office, the Internal Affairs bodies, and the National Security Service. In particular, an individual attempting to sell 10 boxes of the potent drug "Omnadren-250" for 2.6 million soums was detained in the Sh.Rashidov district of Jizzakh region. In the city of Khanabad, Andijan region, an individual who attempted to sell 13 units of "Regapen" and 2 units of "Tropikamid" for 1.5 million soums was arrested. From them, an additional 17 units of "Regapen" and 4 units of "Tropikamid" were also confiscated. Additionally, another criminal was detained in the Toshloq district of Fergana region while attempting to sell 10 units of a potent drug for 1.2 million soums. Criminal cases have been initiated under the article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding the "Illegal production, distribution, advertising, demonstration, or illegal circulation of potent, non-narcotic substances or their analogs, as well as psychotropic substances" for all these cases. Relevant investigative actions are ongoing

The press service of the Department under the Prosecutor General's Office reported that fraudsters have been arrested. This was reported by Upl.uz. Special operational measures were carried out by the employees of the Bukhara regional department. During the operation, two citizens were detained while receiving an amount of 3,500 US dollars. They promised to assist another citizen in gaining admission to the Bukhara Pedagogical Institute in exchange for this money. To implement the plan, they intended to use a former teacher of the institute. However, he was also arrested during the operation when he received 2,000 dollars from the previously obtained funds. Additionally, in the city of Quvasoy, Fergana region, in cooperation with the National Security Service and the Department of Internal Affairs, one person was detained while receiving 1,200 dollars. He promised to help the citizen gain admission to Fergana State University in exchange for this money. In both cases, criminal cases were initiated under the article "Fraud" of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The law enforcement agencies continue to combat such crimes. Citizens are requested to cooperate within the framework of legal measures.

According to the press service of the Tashkent region Internal Affairs Directorate's Traffic Safety Department, psychoactive drugs were found from the driver. This was reported by Upl.uz. On July 25, 2024, a Damas vehicle was stopped in the Tashkent district of Tashkent region. The person driving the vehicle was a citizen born in 2005. During the document verification process, the driver's actions raised suspicion among the internal affairs officers, and they decided to conduct an additional inspection. During the inspection, 20 capsules of strong psychoactive drugs of red and white color were found in the vehicle's cabin. Relevant documents have been formalized regarding this case. The driver was detained and taken to the nearby internal affairs department. He may now face criminal liability under the article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding the "Production, distribution, advertising, demonstration, or illegal circulation of strong-acting, non-narcotic, or psychoactive substances." This incident is being carefully investigated by the internal affairs authorities.

Labubu soft toys are rapidly gaining popularity in Uzbekistan. This was reported by Upl.uz. According to data from the Uzum Market marketing platform, the total sales of these toys have already exceeded 110 thousand dollars. The online publication Spot.uz, which specializes in news related to business and technology in Uzbekistan, provided this information. Labubu toys went on sale on the platform in May of this year and were purchased by the population of Uzbekistan for more than 110 thousand dollars within two months. This indicates a high demand for these toys. Currently, Uzum Market offers over 700 types of products, which are delivered to 480 cities and villages within a day. The most popular model of Labubu toys has collected over 900 orders, 362 of which were made just this week, indicating a growing demand. According to the company's data, Labubu toys are in the highest demand among the population of major cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Fergana, Bukhara, and Navoi. Labubu toys have been available in the global market since 2019, and their popularity peaked in 2025. These toys have achieved great success not only in Asia but also in Europe. They have generated wide interest not only among children but also among adults. Queues are forming in stores around the world for these toys, and sales figures are reaching record levels. The founder of Pop Mart, the company that produces Labubu toys, 38-year-old Van Nin, became the first young entrepreneur to be listed among the top ten richest people in China according to Forbes. Among his partners are Jan Iming, the founder of ByteDance, and Ma Huateng from Tencent. This success confirms the global growth and popularity of the Labubu brand.

A significant period has begun for applicants who successfully passed the test exams in 2025. This was reported by Upl.uz. From July 25 to August 8, they will need to choose higher education institutions and educational programs. A total of 15 days have been allocated for this process. To make their selection, applicants must visit the my.uzbmb.uz website and register on a special platform. After registering, they will go to the "Admission to Higher and Vocational Education Institutions" section and use the "University Selection" section in the next stage. The selection process is organized as follows. First, the applicant specifies their priority fields and, if necessary, confirms their participation in targeted admission. Then, based on the list of subjects taken and the chosen language of instruction, they will have the opportunity to select five higher education institutions and programs. The programs may be at one or several universities, and the form of education must also be specified. To finalize the selection, an SMS will be sent to the phone number provided by the applicant. Once confirmed via SMS, the system will automatically generate the registration form. It should be noted that applicants have the right to change their selection until the specified deadline. After making changes, it is required to re-upload the updated registration form. The results of the selection will be officially announced within a week after the process is completed.

In recent days, on July 24, a renowned expert in the field of sanitation, Jack Sim, founder and director of the World Toilet Organization (WTO), visited the Bukhara region with his wife, Juli Ten. This was reported by Upl.uz. The delegation was welcomed by the Deputy Governor of the region, Botirjon Shahriyarov. The significance of this visit was once again confirmed by the support of the Bukhara region Tourism Committee and the Tourism Department. During the visit, Jack Sim carefully inspected the sanitation and hygiene facilities located in the historical center of Bukhara. He studied the existing infrastructure in detail and provided his professional recommendations on improving the convenience and accessibility of these facilities. For your information, the World Toilet Organization was established in 2001 during an international conference in Singapore dedicated to sanitation issues. The main goal of the organization is to improve sanitation conditions and address issues related to toilets.

An unusual video that previously went viral on social media and attracted widespread public attention has emerged. This was reported by Upl.uz. In it, a teenager is shown as if he is hanging from a pedestrian crossing sign. The boy appears to be holding onto the sign tightly with his head tilted back. Such actions were carried out in accordance with a dubious trend on social media, solely to increase the number of likes and views. Soon, the boy was found, and a preventive conversation was held with him. After that, the case was presented to the court. As a result, the 19-year-old boy who made this video regretted his actions and was detained for 15 days. This incident serves as a reminder for young people to be responsible for their actions and the necessity of adhering to safety rules. It is important to refrain from such behaviors that put oneself and others at risk on social media.

A citizen's Hyundai Elantra car was confiscated in the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, due to debts owed to a bank. This was reported by Upl.uz. The press service of the Tashkent city Department of Mandatory Enforcement reported this. The debtor owed a total of 282.65 million soums to Kapitalbank but did not voluntarily pay the debt. Employees of the Mandatory Enforcement Department took measures to recover the debt and discovered that the citizen attempted to hide the car. The car was put on the wanted list. Later, it was found hidden in a parking lot in Tashkent. The car was towed away with the help of a tow truck and placed in a penalty area. In the coming days, the Hyundai Elantra will be put up for sale at an online auction, and the debtor's debt will be settled in this way. These measures were carried out legally and are aimed at ensuring that citizens fulfill their financial obligations.

As part of the project to modernize the water supply and sewage system of Tashkent city, modern smart water meters will be installed in residential buildings. This was reported by Upl.uz. The press service of the "Uzsuvta'minot" joint-stock company announced this. The main goal of the project is to implement advanced digital technologies for effective monitoring of drinking water consumption. The existing meters have caused inconveniences for consumers and service providers, leading to confusion in calculations due to untimely data transmission. The new smart meters are aimed at eliminating these problems and provide benefits for both parties. They are equipped with a radio module that has the capability for automatic data transmission, ensuring accurate calculation of water consumption. Additionally, the new devices can detect malfunctions in pipes and equipment and record illegal interventions. Meter owners will no longer have to manually enter readings. All data will be available online through a personal account, and payments can be conveniently made via mobile applications. The service organization will be able to remotely collect data and quickly prevent water loss. The manufacturer provides a five-year warranty for the new meters. The mass installation of these meters will begin in the third quarter of this year in the Yangihayot district. Over the next five years, 670,000 homes will receive these installations for free, with costs covered by the "Tashkent city water supply" joint-stock company. Representatives of "Uzsuvta'minot" emphasized that the installation process will not cause any inconvenience to citizens. No welding or repair work will be required on the pipes.

In the first half of this year, more than three million individuals were engaged in productive labor activities. This was reported by Upl.uz. As of July 1, the poverty rate in the country decreased by 6.8 percent. These positive changes are the result of efforts made to increase employment and reform the vocational education system. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, got acquainted with the presentation of new approaches in the field of employment and vocational education on July 25. The event emphasized that the quality of vocational training is a crucial factor in further increasing employment. To achieve this, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with employers, improve educational programs, and actively engage the private sector. The main problem in preparing specialists with high demand in professions is that educational programs do not align with labor market requirements. The presentation also noted that some existing regulations in the field of labor relations are causing excessive difficulties for entrepreneurs, particularly small businesses. Specifically, it was mentioned that digital technologies are not being fully utilized in the hiring of personnel. Current regulations do not encourage employers to openly announce job vacancies, which leads to inaccurate labor market statistics and hinders the clear identification of training directions for specialists. In response to these issues, new initiatives and measures were presented. According to the proposed approaches, employment agencies should become partner organizations that serve employers rather than being regulatory bodies. For instance, penalties for not providing information about job vacancies or for not accepting submitted candidates will be abolished. This will allow employment agencies to collect reliable information and direct job seekers to suitable job openings, while the final hiring decision remains with the employer. A special electronic platform will be developed to implement the new model. In the initial phase, it will be launched in Tashkent as a pilot project and will later be expanded throughout Uzbekistan. Vacant positions where there is a shortage of specialists will be included in priority vocational education areas, and specific actions will be organized to prepare the necessary personnel. To improve the quality of vocational education, it is planned to involve representatives of the private sector in the activities of Vocational Skills Centers, as well as to specialize certain centers in specific sectors. Responsible individuals have been tasked with transitioning to a three-tier vocational education system. This system aims to introduce free video courses on the internet, as well as create opportunities for working citizens to use "vocational vouchers" for professional retraining or skill enhancement.

A tragic incident occurred in the city of Shchyolkovo near Moscow, where a 49-year-old hearing-impaired Muscovite was brutally murdered. This was reported by Upl.uz. The main suspect in the criminal case is a 33-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan. According to investigation data, this individual was illegally present in Russia. The incident took place on the evening of July 20 and attracted the attention of high-ranking officials and the public in Russia. According to the initial investigation version, the victim encountered two men under the influence of alcohol while returning home. One of them misunderstood the gestures of the hearing-impaired Muscovite and perceived these actions as aggression. Subsequently, the citizen of Uzbekistan delivered strong blows to the victim's head and abdomen. Due to the injuries being incompatible with life, the victim died at the scene. To conceal the traces of the crime, the attacker dragged the victim's body into the bushes, where it was found by local residents an hour later. Thanks to the swift actions of the police officers, the suspect was apprehended within a short period. His actions are currently being investigated as causing serious bodily harm and negligence leading to death. The fate of the second participant remains unknown. The investigation continues to determine his level of involvement in the incident, and if necessary, criminal liability may be applied to him. It has been revealed that the victim was born in the city of Grozny, was residing near Moscow at the time of death, and was raising two children. His relatives emphasize that he was a peaceful and non-conflict person and categorically deny any possibility of provoking the attack. The family is demanding the harshest punishment for the perpetrators. This case has been placed under special control by the leadership of the Russian Investigative Committee. The head of the department, Alexander Bastrykin, has requested a detailed report on all aspects of the investigation process. Legal experts believe that the victim's disability and the suspect's illegal stay in the country will be considered as circumstances that increase the severity of the punishment in court. Sign language is not universal and has many national and regional dialects. A gesture that is accepted as a simple action in one country may be understood as an insult in another. Therefore, it is crucial to correctly understand such languages.

As of January 1, 2025, the total number of camels in the Republic of Uzbekistan amounted to 17,600. This was reported by Upl.uz. This information was provided by the State Statistics Committee. The majority of camels are concentrated in farms and household plots, with their number reaching 10,100. There are 4,700 camels in farmer households. Additionally, 2,800 camels are kept in organizations engaged in agricultural activities. Camels play an important role in Uzbekistan's economic and cultural life, especially in desert and semi-desert areas. Their endurance and adaptability to harsh climatic conditions make them essential animals in agriculture and transportation. For this reason, camel breeding and development are supported with special attention in state policy.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan officially commented on the rumors circulating on social media regarding the cancellation of the mandatory language certificate for admission to master's and doctoral education. This was reported by Upl.uz. The ministry firmly denied this information and emphasized that the requirement for a language certificate remains in effect. This misunderstanding arose from the incorrect interpretation of the content of the President's decree No. 114 dated July 19, 2025. According to the ministry, this decree annulled the fourth paragraph of clause 6 of the Cabinet of Ministers' decree dated May 19, 2021. However, the annulled clause only pertains to the initial stage of implementing the language certification system and does not affect the requirement for a language certificate. This change is of a technical legal nature and does not affect the admission rules. Currently, the requirements for admission to master's and doctoral programs are clearly defined by the President's decree No. 81 dated May 24, 2024. This document establishes differentiated requirements regarding the level of foreign language proficiency. The level of language proficiency must be confirmed by a national or international certificate. According to the decree, the minimum required levels are as follows: - C1 (advanced) – mandatory for applicants applying for specialties directly related to foreign languages. - B2 (upper intermediate) – required for many fields such as humanities, biological sciences, mathematics and statistics, business and management, law, social sciences, journalism, and information and communication technologies. - B1 (intermediate) – the minimum level established for culture, arts, sports, and other fields. The official position of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has not changed, and the presence of a language certificate in the specified format is a condition for admission to master's and doctoral programs. Applicants who do not present a certificate will not be able to participate in the selection process.

A court verdict has been announced regarding a serious criminal case related to the death of Russian journalist Inessa Papernoy, her companion Maxim Radchenko, and Uzbek citizen Hushnud Udekov in Tashkent. This was reported by Upl.uz. This tragedy, which occurred in October of last year at the Karaman Palace hotel, claimed the lives of three individuals. In the court proceedings conducted in accordance with the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the main defendant was sentenced to eight years in prison. According to the results of the forensic examination, the cause of death was acute poisoning from carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide gases. Subsequent technical expertise revealed that the heating equipment in the hotel was outdated and had exceeded its service life. This situation led to the spread of hazardous gases. In the criminal case, the hotel owner, two heating equipment sellers, and the plumber who installed them incorrectly were detained, and punitive measures were taken against them. According to the decision of the criminal court of the Yakkasaray district, the hotel owner A. X. was found guilty of producing, storing, transporting, or selling products that do not meet safety requirements, as well as abusing his authority. He was deprived of liberty for eight years and one month. The heating equipment sellers Z. J. and A. Y., as well as the plumber N. K., were found guilty of abusing their authority and each was deprived of liberty for three years.

According to the press service of the Samarkand regional internal affairs department, a person suspected of drug trafficking has been detained. This was reported by Upl.uz. Based on the obtained operational information, a 42-year-old local resident was detained by the internal affairs officers in Samarkand city. He stopped his car near the intersection of Registon and Daxbed streets. Then, his Lacetti brand car was thoroughly inspected in the presence of witnesses. 34 grams of a substance resembling hashish was found in the car's interior. This individual had previously been suspected of distributing drugs, and the evidence collected confirmed his guilt. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 273, part five of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This article refers to illegal production, acquisition, storage, and other actions aimed at selling drugs. The offender may face a penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment. Investigations conducted by the internal affairs agencies are ongoing. Measures to combat such crimes and prevent them are being intensified.

The State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan published data on average monthly wages for the period from January to June 2025. This was reported by Upl.uz. According to this data, it was revealed that there are sectors in the country where the average monthly salary exceeds 5.9 million soums. The sector with the highest income is finance, which includes banking, insurance, leasing, lending, and brokerage services. The average monthly income of specialists working in this sector amounts to 16.2 million soums. They are followed by specialists in the information and communication sector, where the average salary is around 14.7 million soums. Additionally, the monthly salaries in other sectors are as follows: 9 million soums in transportation and storage, 7.1 million soums in industry, 6.7 million soums in trade, 5.8 million soums in construction, 5 million soums in arts, entertainment, and recreation, 4.5 million soums in tourism and food services, 4.1 million soums in education, and 3.6 million soums in health and social services. At the same time, although salaries in high technology and finance sectors are significantly higher, it is observed that the salary levels in social sectors such as education and health remain lower. This situation indicates the need for additional measures to develop social sectors and increase wages in the country.

According to the press service of the Capital's Compulsory Enforcement Bureau, the debt on the loan has been recovered. This was reported by Upl.uz. The Interdistrict Civil Court of Uchtepa received an enforcement order regarding the debt from the Chilonzor district Compulsory Enforcement Bureau. The debtor took a loan of 31,101,883 soums from "TBC Bank" and failed to repay it on time. After the enforcement proceedings began, the debtor was given a 15-day period to voluntarily repay the debt. However, no payment was made during this time, so the enforcement actions continued. Employees of the Compulsory Enforcement Bureau identified the debtor's property, including one vehicle, through the special electronic program "MIB-portal," and imposed a restriction on it. Following these measures, the debtor fully repaid the debt to the bank, and the enforcement case was completely closed due to the debt being settled. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of legal measures in recovering loan debts.

According to the press service of the Department under the Prosecutor General's Office, the fraudsters have been arrested. This was reported by Upl.uz. Department employees in the Samarkand region and representatives of the State Security Service jointly conducted a special rapid operation. During the operation, the head of a private enterprise named “A.D.” was caught while receiving money. He was apprehended while taking an amount of 7 thousand US dollars. It was revealed that this person gained the trust of two citizens and promised to help them go to work in Slovakia. This amount included the processing of all documents necessary for labor migration. Additionally, another person was arrested by the Department and State Security Service employees in the Jizzakh region. He took 2 thousand US dollars from two citizens and promised to arrange visas for them to go to the United States of America. In both cases, criminal cases were initiated under the “Fraud” article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Currently, investigative actions are being carried out to identify other victims of the criminals. Such cases demonstrate serious measures being taken to protect the rights and interests of citizens.