Society news

Starting from September 1, 2025, Hungary's Wizz Air low-cost airline will cancel flights between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was reported by Upl.uz. This decision is related to the suspension of operations of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi subsidiary. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi started operations in November 2020, and from December 2022 it has been operating flights to Samarkand, and from January 2023 to Tashkent. Now Wizz Air intends to focus its operations on Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Western European countries such as Austria, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Over the past year, the company has faced operational difficulties in the Middle East region. Political instability in the region has led to frequent airspace closures and widespread disruptions, resulting in a decrease in consumer demand. Additionally, regulatory restrictions have significantly reduced the company's opportunities to enter and expand in its core markets. According to Reuters, these restrictions particularly affect India and Pakistan, countries that the airline had high hopes for. The harsh climate and hot conditions in Abu Dhabi have also negatively impacted the efficiency of the aircraft. These factors have made it difficult for Wizz Air's low-cost airline model in the region to remain sustainable and for its core operations in Europe to be profitable. As noted by the company's CEO József Váradi, supply chain constraints, political instability, and difficulties in market entry have complicated achieving initial plans. This was a difficult decision for them, but it is the right choice under the current circumstances. Approximately two-thirds of Wizz Air's business is related to Central and Eastern Europe. Operations in Abu Dhabi accounted for only 5 percent of the total volume, while Western European countries hold less than 30 percent share. Currently, Wizz Air has 237 aircraft of the Airbus A320 and A321 types and expects to receive 280 new aircraft over the next five years. The company plans to carry 63.4 million passengers in the 2025 financial year

Information about the closure of the "Urikzar" market has spread on social media. This was reported by Upl.uz. It was mentioned that the famous market is to be demolished. The city administration responded to these reports. The city administration denied rumors about the demolition and closure of the market. According to the press service of the administration, the market is operating in accordance with the established procedures. It should be noted that the "Urikzar" market is one of the most popular and frequently visited markets in Tashkent. For this reason, the market's activities continue, and the information about its closure is not true. The city administration recommends that the public obtain accurate and reliable information.

During the past weekend, a photo of beef emitting a peculiar glow in the dark spread across social media, sparking widespread discussions among the population of Uzbekistan. This was reported by Upl.uz. The initial report stated that this product was purchased from one of the large chain supermarkets in the capital. The incident was quickly covered by the "Potrebitel.uz" information portal, which monitors the quality of products and services in the country. This news prompted numerous consumer reactions. Some shared their experiences, while others began to check the purchased meat using the lights of their mobile phones. A representative of the retail chain announced that the situation has been taken under control. An internal investigation has begun, and samples of the suspicious product are planned to be sent to an independent laboratory. This laboratory will conduct an examination to determine the causes of the unique appearance in the meat. Food safety experts emphasize that the phenomenon of bioluminescence does not always indicate that the product is spoiled. The most common reason is the presence of Photobacterium phosphoreum microorganisms on the surface of the meat, which multiply and emit light when refrigeration conditions are violated. This process is mainly observed in fresh meat and disappears during the decay process. The second reason cited is the phosphates added to the product. They retain moisture and may emit weak light under certain conditions. The third option is an optical effect that occurs due to the refraction of light from the moisture on the meat's surface or the packaging material. Official bodies, including the consumer rights protection agency, are not providing an official comment until the laboratory results are released. They state that final conclusions about the safety of the product can only be made based on a complete examination. An interesting fact is that during the American Civil War, some soldiers' wounds were observed to emit faint light in the dark. This phenomenon was called the "Angel's Glow." In 2001, it was revealed that the bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens was responsible for this, producing antibiotic substances that eliminated dangerous microbes in the wounds and accelerated the healing process. This case remains an interesting research topic in the fields of biology and medicine today

The press service of the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights has published information. This was reported by Upl.uz. Information has spread on social networks that the Bukhara Medical Institute spent 8.6 billion soums to organize the "Smart Greenhouse" project. It became known that a tender was held for this project. Based on the information circulated, the committee conducted an inspection regarding this tender. As a result of the inspection, violations of the requirements of Article 29 of the Law on "Competition" were identified in the tender procedures conducted by the Bukhara Medical Institute. Accordingly, relevant administrative proceedings were initiated. Additional information about the measures taken and the results of the initiated case is planned to be provided. These processes will continue based on the principles of legality and transparency. The Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights pays special attention to providing citizens with accurate information.

According to the press service of the Namangan region police, a man holding narcotic substances has been detained. This was reported by Upl.uz. Operational measures were carried out by the Chartak district police. During this operation, a search was conducted at the home of a resident of the "Bog'" neighborhood, born in 2000, a citizen of the "Tengdosh" neighborhood. The search process was carried out with the participation of impartial witnesses. As a result, 2 grams of hashish narcotic substance was found, which the man had kept for personal use. A criminal case has been initiated by the Chartak district police under part 2 of article 273 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding this incident. According to this article, the offender may face a penalty of imprisonment for a term of 3 to 5 years. Additionally, the court has also considered sending the man for compulsory drug treatment.

The State Security Service conducted a special operational event in the Andijan region. This was reported by Upl.uz. During the event, the deputy mayor of Khonobod city and his accomplice — the head of an alcoholic beverage store were detained. They were caught while accepting 20 thousand US dollars. This money had been pre-prepared with a special chemical substance. It was revealed that in exchange for this amount, they promised to assist the entrepreneur in winning an auction for a 4-hectare land plot. On this land plot, the entrepreneur planned to establish the production of mattresses, foam cardboard, and children's diapers. Currently, a criminal case has been initiated regarding this situation, and investigative actions are underway.

According to the SGB press service, the head of the regional department of the Pension Fund has been detained. This was reported by Upl.uz. An employee of the SGB has arrested the head of the regional department in the Ahangaran district. He worked in the off-budget fund management of the Pension Fund. The arrest took place while he was accepting a bribe. He was caught while receiving a bribe of 1500 US dollars. In exchange for this money, he promised to assist the local population in restoring lost workbooks and assigning pensions based on age. Previously, this individual had been held criminally liable under the article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding "Theft, robbery through theft". After serving his sentence, he did not learn from his mistakes. Currently, an investigation is underway against him. This case is being examined within the framework of the fight against corruption, and legal measures are being taken.

The government of Uzbekistan has approved a new technical inspection procedure. This was reported by Upl.uz. According to this procedure, the technical condition of elevator equipment will be monitored through mandatory annual inspections, and a color coding system will be implemented to inform citizens about the condition of elevators. This decision was made to enhance safety measures and to carry out oversight mechanisms in the sector transparently. According to the new rules, all active elevators must undergo a technical inspection at least once every 12 months. Additionally, newly installed elevators will be inspected for the first time before being officially registered. This aims to prevent the use of equipment that does not meet standards. The inspections will be carried out by accredited specialized organizations. The inspection must be completed within ten working days from the date of the official application submission. A color sticker system has been introduced to directly inform citizens. At the end of the inspection, a special colored label will be affixed to the inner wall of the elevator cabin. The colors have the following meanings: Green sticker – indicates that the elevator fully meets technical requirements and safety standards. Blue sticker – minor defects are present, which do not pose a risk, but must be addressed by the servicing organization soon. Yellow sticker – technical malfunctions have been identified, and it is not recommended to use the elevator until repairs are made. Red sticker – serious condition of the equipment, the elevator is considered dangerous and must be immediately taken out of service. The elevator will only be put back into operation after all deficiencies have been rectified and it has passed re-inspection. This innovation will not only enhance the safety of citizens but also provide residents of multi-apartment buildings the opportunity to assess the condition of elevators themselves. The strengthening of oversight will also increase the responsibility of local authorities for the condition of housing stock.

The Ministry of Construction and Communal Services officially announced that all work at the Uchtepa City residential complex construction site has been temporarily halted. This was reported by Upl.uz. The document published on July 11 highlighted that there are serious discrepancies between the ongoing work and the previously approved project documents. This situation prompted the ministry to take strict measures. The project is being implemented by Great Vertex company. Initially, this project aimed to reconstruct a multi-storey parking lot in the Uchtepa district and convert it into a multifunctional residential building. This land area was allocated to Elegant Avto Servis company by the former district mayor Shavkatbek Irgashov in 2018. Subsequently, the land rights were transferred to Great Vertex, and in 2019, an official permit was granted for the change of purpose of the facility and its complete reconstruction. Great Vertex is a company operating in the construction sector, established in April 2019. Its charter capital is reported to be over 2.57 billion soums according to the state registry. The process of obtaining a permit began on November 6, 2019, from the district construction department, and later, on May 21, 2020, the Tashkent city chief construction department issued an architecture and planning assignment. The project documents were prepared by Npts Masshtab Proyekt Stroy organization, and the sketch project was approved on June 23, 2023. On January 31, 2024, the documents were re-registered at the initiative of the customer. The main reason for the current situation was the rejection of the request by the construction company to increase the number of floors on February 28, 2025. According to the decision of the Architecture and Urban Planning Council, instead of the initially agreed 5-storey building, Great Vertex began constructing two 16-storey and three 8-storey blocks. When the supervisory authorities intervened, excavation work and foundation construction at the construction site had been fully completed, and assembly work in the underground part had begun. The inspection in the field of construction and communal services conducted 13 inspections and found that construction work was being carried out contrary to the project. As a result of the inspection, a protocol was drawn up against the responsible employee of Great Vertex under part 1 of article 99 of the Administrative Responsibility Code. According to the ministry's report, construction work can only be resumed after all deficiencies are eliminated and the project is adjusted to meet normative requirements. A moratorium on issuing permits for new construction has been in effect in the central area of Tashkent city since 2022. This decision was made to preserve the historical appearance of the capital and to develop a new, balanced master plan. Nevertheless, reconstruction projects like Uchtepa City often fall into the ambiguous area of this regulation.

The press service of the Tashkent city administration has published the latest information prepared based on citizens' appeals on the "People's Control" portal. This was reported by Upl.uz. As of July 11, 2025, the main problems in the urban environment remain unchanged. Among them, issues related to housing and communal services, road conditions, and general landscaping continue to be the most complained about. Since the beginning of this year, a total of 36,092 appeals have been received from Tashkent city. The number of appeals is not decreasing: in the last reporting week, from July 7 to 11, 1,713 new appeals were recorded. The most active areas for citizens were the Yunusabad and Mirzo Ulugbek districts, where residents reported existing problems the most. Analyzing the topics of appeals, issues in the housing and communal services sector account for 31 percent of all applications. The condition of road infrastructure, including pedestrian pathways, ranks second with 20.4 percent. Landscaping and environmental issues each account for 3.5 percent of complaints. Additionally, portal moderators note an increase in the number of local but significant problems. This includes the pollution of garbage bins and surrounding areas, malfunctioning equipment in children's playgrounds, delays in repair work, and the absence of street lighting. The majority of registered appeals – 36,028 – have been accepted for processing. Currently, 29,018 appeals are marked as "resolved," while 64 have been rejected at the moderation stage. However, the number of delayed appeals has reached 4,826, which is a serious concern. Another 2,013 appeals are under review by responsible organizations. The Yunusabad district leads in the number of unresolved problems within the specified deadlines, with 719 delayed appeals. Following are Chilonzor (689), Mirzo Ulugbek (663), and Shaykhontohur (655) districts. These four districts account for 56.5 percent of the delayed appeals citywide, indicating systemic issues in their communal and administrative services. When analyzing work efficiency, the most appeals were received by the Tashkent city electricity supply company – 3,699. However, this organization was unable to respond to 127 appeals on time, which means a 2.8 percent delay. The Tashkent ecology department received 1,247 complaints, of which 111 were delayed (8.9 percent). The worst performance belongs to the Main Landscaping Department: out of 1,175 appeals, 141 were delayed, accounting for 12 percent. This and other indicators, including the number of appeals per capita and the share of official rejections, are used to compile a weekly district ranking. Last week, the best result was achieved by the Uchtepa district, scoring 8.21 points in a 10-point system. The lowest score of 2.17 points was given to the Shaykhontohur district, which also leads in the number of delayed appeals, exceeding 650. Identifying problems is not limited to the portal alone. Moderators actively monitor popular social networks such as Telegram and Facebook. Last week, 2,840 problems were identified in this manner and entered into the "People's Control" system as official appeals, currently under review by the relevant services. The "People's Control" portal was launched in 2021 in Tashkent city to connect citizens directly with the city administration. It is part of a program aimed at digitizing public services and increasing the transparency of executive authorities.

According to the press service of the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, a fraudster has been arrested. This was reported by Upl.uz. An operation was carried out in cooperation with the employees of the Uchtepa district department and the National Security Service. During the operation, a person was caught while receiving an amount of 2000 US dollars. He promised to help another citizen achieve a high score on the creative exam for admission to the State Choreography Academy in exchange for this money. He intended to ensure acceptance for study on a state grant basis. To implement the plan, he intended to use his high-ranking acquaintances. A criminal case has been initiated under the articles of "Fraud" and "Assisting Corruption" of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding this incident. Currently, investigative actions are ongoing. This case once again highlights the importance of accountability before the law. We urge the media and citizens to be vigilant against such crimes.

A group engaged in cyber fraud has been identified in Tashkent city, and it has been reported that they stole approximately one billion soums from citizens' bank cards. This was reported by Upl.uz. The criminals used a method of distributing malicious software through the Telegram messenger. The press service of the Tashkent city cybersecurity center reported that these criminals were detained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the operational-search department, and the cybersecurity center. The group members distributed malicious files in .apk format intended for Android devices via Telegram. Once this file was installed on phones, the criminals gained full access to users' SMS messages, contacts, call histories, and other personal information. Using this information, they easily stole money from bank cards. During the investigation, it was revealed that there were citizens from various countries in the group. The criminals organized a closed group on Telegram, where they stored the bank card information of users who had installed the virus and the SMS codes necessary to confirm financial transactions. The phones of the detained suspects were checked, and it was found that the total amount stolen from 177 bank cards was nearly one billion soums. The entire fraud scheme and thefts were managed through a specially organized call center. Currently, operational-search activities are ongoing to identify other participants in the republic's territory. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 168 ("Fraud") of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding this case. The suspects have been detained, and active investigative actions are being carried out to fully uncover the crime and hold all guilty parties accountable.

The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced information. This was reported by Upl.uz. On July 13 of this year, a citizen of Uzbekistan wanted by Interpol was brought to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport. He is accused under part 3 of article 167 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which pertains to robbery or theft through embezzlement. For this crime, he may face a sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment. During the rapid search operations conducted by Interpol officers, it was determined that this individual had been hiding in the territory of the United States. As a result of effective actions carried out in cooperation with U.S. law enforcement agencies and the U.S. embassy in Uzbekistan, this criminal was returned to Uzbekistan. He will now be held accountable by the court.

According to the press service of the Tashkent city Mandatory Enforcement Bureau, the debtor has paid off all debts for the apartment that was seized. This was reported by Upl.uz. The decision of the inter-district civil court of Uchtepa district was received by the Tashkent city Mandatory Enforcement Bureau. According to this decision, a total of more than 185.5 million soums was collected from the individual entrepreneur named "M.S.G." in favor of the Shaykhontohur branch of "Ipak Yo'li" bank. Due to the individual entrepreneur's failure to pay the debt on time, his apartment located in the Sergeli-5 area was seized as a forced collection measure. After ignoring warnings for three months, the entrepreneur eventually paid the full amount of the debt and submitted a copy of the payment confirmation document to the capital's Mandatory Enforcement Bureau. Based on this, the enforcement case was canceled

On July 10, 2025, the Law on the "Registration of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, foreign citizens, and stateless persons at their place of residence and temporary residence" was adopted (No. ZRU–1074). This was reported by Upl.uz. This law was developed to simplify and systematize the population registration process. This was announced by the press service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to the law, henceforth, individuals who need to be registered at their place of residence or temporary residence must be registered in a timely manner by the owner of the residence or a person with the right to use it. For individuals residing in hotels, hostels, and other accommodations, registration will be carried out in a notification manner. This process will be carried out by responsible personnel through the special "E-guest" system. Uzbek citizens living abroad permanently must register at their place of residence or temporary residence within 10 working days after entering the country. Citizens can use the following convenient methods to register at their place of residence: - At the migration and citizenship departments of the internal affairs agencies; - At the state service centers; - Through the single interactive portal of state services (my.gov.uz). One of the important requirements of the new law is that the normative standards of social living space must be adhered to when registering at the place of residence or temporary residence. This is aimed at improving the living conditions of citizens

A disturbing video has spread on social media, showing our compatriot attempting to rape a minor girl. This was reported by Upl.uz. The incident occurred in St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia. The man approached the girl and said, "I am Uzbek. I love you," and invited her to join him. The victim politely refused and stated that she would not go anywhere. Nevertheless, the man approached her, attempted to rape her, and exerted pressure on her. When other young men who witnessed the situation intervened, he fled. Currently, search operations are underway to find him. This incident has been seriously condemned, emphasizing the need for strict measures against such crimes. It is important for parents and community representatives to work together to ensure the safety of young people.

On July 10, 2025, a law (ZR-1075) amending and supplementing the Administrative Liability Code was adopted in Uzbekistan. This was reported by Upl.uz. The press service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan announced this. The law establishes a number of cases for the cancellation of administrative liability, which previously led to punishment. In particular, the following actions have been removed from administrative liability: damage to telephone booths and the installation or use of unauthorized radio signal transmission stations. One of the main innovations of the law is the introduction of a private prosecution institution for administrative offenses. Now, defamation, insult, and similar offenses will only be considered based on the victim's complaint. Administrative proceedings in such cases will only be initiated at the initiative of the injured party. However, exceptions are established for cases where the victim cannot defend their rights. If the victim needs assistance, is a minor, or cannot file a complaint for other reasons, the authorized official is obliged to initiate the case without the victim's application. This law will come into force from the day of its official publication

A new stage of reforms has begun in the state governance system of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the most important part of which is the closure of the Information and Mass Communications Agency. This was reported by Upl.uz. This decision is part of comprehensive reforms adopted within the framework of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's decree on "Measures to enhance efficiency, proactivity, and results in the state governance system." A national content production center is planned to be established based on the material and technical resources and personnel of the closed agency, with its tasks and powers to be clearly defined in the near future. These changes are being implemented against the backdrop of a deep reorganization of the presidential administration. From now on, the administration will operate based on updated principles. One of the main innovations is the requirement that all drafts of normative legal documents undergo mandatory expertise and be based on scientific research. For this purpose, analytical institutions within the presidential administration will be actively involved, and the recommendations of local and foreign experts and scholars will also be taken into account. This approach aims to enhance the quality and justification of the decisions being made. Special project offices are being established to implement the strategic directions of the reforms. At the same time, a compliance system is being introduced in the presidential administration. These measures are aimed at ensuring systematic control of legality, strengthening executive discipline, and especially creating mechanisms to prevent corruption risks. The transparency of the activities of state bodies is one of the priority areas. Within the framework of the new structure, positions of representatives of the President in specific areas will be established, and they will take personal responsibility for their fields. The reforms will also directly affect the system of relations between the government and society. The document envisions increasing the accountability of state bodies, including regional governors, to citizens. For this purpose, the institute of press secretaries will be strengthened, and they will be provided with new powers and tools. A new system for effective communication with the public and working with the media will be introduced, which will serve to make the communication between the state and society systematic and effective. The Information and Mass Communications Agency was established in 2019, and during its initial activities, it was led by the President's close associate Sayyora Mirziyoyeva. This has given the agency a special status and influence in the country's media and political spheres.

As of July 1, 2025, the population of Uzbekistan has reached 37,859,698. This was reported by Upl.uz. This is a 2 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This information was published by the press service of the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and provided interesting details about the country's demographic situation. A deep analysis of the statistical data shows the following trends. First of all, the number of men is greater than that of women. The number of men is 19.1 million, while the number of women is 18.8 million. Additionally, the urban population exceeds the rural population. The urban population is 19.3 million, while the rural population is 18.6 million. These figures provide important information about demographic processes and the level of urbanization in the country. Overall, the growth of the population and the increase in the share of the urban population are considered indicators of socio-economic development. These trends are of significant importance in shaping state policy and effectively distributing resources.

On Monday, July 14, reports came in about the death of a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Azerbaijan. This was reported by Upl.uz. The incident occurred at one of the health resorts in the city of Naftalan. Naftalan is widely known for its unique treatment resorts. According to information disseminated by Azerbaijani media, the staff of the sanatorium found the deceased in his room. A preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was Z. Kafarov, born in 1988, who was 37 years old at the time of his death. His trip to Azerbaijan was solely for tourism purposes, with the main aim of relaxation and undergoing health treatments. A rapid investigation team was called to the scene. According to preliminary investigation results, the death is presumed to be due to natural causes, specifically acute heart failure. Nevertheless, local law enforcement agencies have initiated a full investigation to determine the exact causes and examine all circumstances related to the incident. A forensic examination has been appointed within the investigation. It is planned to officially notify the deceased's relatives through diplomatic channels and organize all procedures related to repatriating the body. The oil extracted from Naftalan is considered unique in its therapeutic use worldwide. Due to the high content of naphthenic hydrocarbons in this oil, it does not burn and is not used as fuel. Smoking is strictly prohibited during Naftalan baths, as it can be dangerous, even though the oil itself does not burn like ordinary fuel.