Society news

Travel abroad is becoming increasingly popular among citizens of Uzbekistan. The National Statistics Committee has published official data on tourist departures made by Uzbeks in the first quarter of 2025. According to this data, more than 1.5 million citizens of Uzbekistan traveled abroad for tourism purposes during this three-month period. This figure has increased by 256,500 or 20.3 percent compared to the same period last year. Statistics show that citizens' interest in international tourism is consistently growing. The Committee emphasizes that the geography of travel is expanding, but Central Asian countries remain among the most popular destinations. The list of countries most frequently visited by citizens of Uzbekistan from January to March is as follows: - Kyrgyzstan – 631,240; - Tajikistan – 281,539; - Kazakhstan – 240,644; - Saudi Arabia – 112,274; - Russia – 69,065; - Turkey – 46,566; - UAE (United Arab Emirates) – 44,796; - Egypt – 16,689; - Thailand – 13,456; - Vietnam – 9,574; - Other countries – 53,704. It is evident that geographical proximity, language, and cultural similarities are key factors contributing to the high level of travel to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. At the same time, the number of trips to Saudi Arabia is also high—this is mainly related to Umrah pilgrimage, while trips to the UAE, Turkey, Thailand, and Vietnam are primarily for leisure and commercial purposes. It should be noted that considering global economic and tourism trends, interest in European and Asian countries is also expected to increase in the coming years. The active interest of the country's citizens in tourism is considered a bright indicator of the rising standard of living in society and the broadening of worldviews. With the development of tourism and an increase in services and air connections that facilitate travel, such figures are expected to grow even further.

According to the Tashkent region customs department, a citizen who entered the "Navoi" border customs post on foot was subjected to a personal search by a customs officer due to suspicious behavior observed during customs control. As a result of the personal search, bullion gold pieces weighing a total of 1,028 grams were found on the citizen's body. The total value of these gold items, taken as material evidence, amounted to 1 billion 312 million soums. Currently, a criminal case has been initiated by the customs authorities regarding this incident, and relevant procedural actions are being carried out. Photo: Tashkent region customs department

On the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Honor, additional services will be organized for the 'Afrosiyob' high-speed train on the Samarkand—Tashkent—Samarkand route 775/776 on May 8, 9, 10, and 11. This was reported by the Ministry of Transport. Schedule: Route 775 Samarkand—Tashkent - Samarkand 10:55 — Tashkent 13:15. Route 776 Tashkent—Samarkand - Tashkent 13:56 — Samarkand 16:14.

On May 1, in the Denov district of Surxondaryo region, a woman registered at a psychiatric dispensary inflicted serious injuries on a 3-year-old girl with a kitchen knife, Uz24.uz reported. The girl was taken to the hospital, but the doctors could not save her. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the suspect has been detained in accordance with procedural rules. A criminal case has been initiated against her under Article 97 of the Criminal Code (intentional murder). Currently, investigative actions are being carried out.

A man who killed his acquaintance for asking for a debt was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Uzbekistan, as reported by Uz24.uz. According to reports, the crime occurred in 2018. According to court documents, the accused had purchased $10,000 worth of grapes from the deceased's vineyard but failed to return the debt at the agreed time. The deceased had asked for the debt several times. As a result of the ensuing conflict, the accused killed him. The killer returned to the crime scene at night and, with a shovel he brought from home, dug a deep hole and buried the deceased's body. The crime was uncovered 22 days later, on November 13. The court sentenced him to 16 years in prison.

The Department of the State Enforcement Bureau of the Takhtakupir district has been working on the enforcement document of the Nukus inter-district economic court, which stipulates the collection of 643,233 US dollars from the debtor "FEED TRADE TAXIATASH" LLC in favor of the ATB "Mikrokreditbank," with the enforcement directed towards the collateral property, an 8 billion soum agricultural complex (farm) located in the Khojayli district. The department's state executors provided the debtor with a voluntary period of 15 days to ensure the execution of the enforcement document, and the collateral properties were duly registered. However, due to the debtor's failure to voluntarily comply with the requirements of the enforcement document, the registered properties were put up for sale through an electronic online auction platform. In the auction held in March 2024, no buyer was found for the property put up for sale, and since it was not sold, these properties were transferred to the balance of ATB "Mikrokreditbank" in lieu of the debt.

For the first time in the history of the Tashkent metro, women have started working as electric train drivers, Kursiv Media reported. They are currently undergoing practical training under the supervision of experienced instructors and are expected to start driving trains independently in the near future. The selection for women train drivers was announced in 2024 at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Employees who had worked in various departments of the metro participated in the selection. Candidates underwent interviews, medical examinations, and psychological tests. As a result, 16 women were accepted. They have completed intensive training courses for 11 months, learning the rules of train operation, technical structure, and the principles of pneumatic systems.

According to Nova24, the State Security Service employees in Tashkent uncovered the smuggling of 574,000 illegal infusion systems brought from China. A man born in 1992 conspired with an acquaintance and a bank employee to attempt to bring nearly 800 boxes containing 574,000 infusion systems into Uzbekistan. He intended to sell this merchandise for $55,700 (approximately 700 million soums). Following an expert evaluation, the goods were deemed unsuitable for use. A criminal case has been initiated under part 3 "a" of Article 186-3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The offenders face a penalty of imprisonment ranging from 7 to 12 years.

Yesterday, on May 5, a fire occurred in one of the multi-storey residential buildings located in the Uchtepa district of our capital. This was reported by the press service of the Tashkent city emergency situations department. According to the information, at 19:25, a report was received about smoke coming from an apartment in one of the multi-storey buildings on Chilonzor 31 in the Uchtepa district. Immediately, special equipment and personnel from the Tashkent city fire and rescue service were sent to the scene of the fire. The fire and rescue teams arrived at the scene at 19:32 and began to take control of the situation urgently. As a result of the measures taken, the fire was extinguished in a short time, specifically at 19:48. It was noted that no one was injured as a result of the incident, and the health and lives of citizens were not harmed. However, some equipment in the house may have been damaged due to the fire, resulting in material damage. Currently, the exact amount of this damage is being investigated by specialists. Currently, investigations are ongoing to determine the causes of the incident and the factors that led to it. Specialists speculate that the fire may have been caused by negligence in the use of electrical devices, illegal use of gas appliances, or other reasons. The emergency situations department once again urged the population, especially citizens living in multi-storey buildings, to strictly adhere to safety rules in everyday life and to maintain caution. Additional information regarding the details of the incident will be provided after the investigation. Follow the Zamin.uz website and do not miss important news!

A hidden workshop engaged in the production and sale of counterfeit drugs was shut down in Tashkent city and Tashkent region. During operational-search activities carried out by the State Security Service in cooperation with customs authorities, it was revealed that a person living in Tashkent city, born in 1984, had rented a house in the Tashkent district of Tashkent region, where not only counterfeit drugs were produced but also their illegal sale was conducted with the participation of witnesses. In the hidden workshop intended for drug preparation, 594,127 units of 49 types of drugs, including “Futsis”, “Prosulpin”, “Ursosan”, “Arbidol”, and others, were found without the necessary documentation and safety guarantees. It should be noted that these drugs were prepared using makeshift methods with the help of 50 pieces of equipment, including machines and molds. Additionally, 168 kilograms of raw materials for drugs that do not meet quality requirements, labels, instructions, paper boxes, empty containers, and capsules were seized as material evidence. When the residence of this individual in the Uchtepa district of Tashkent city was inspected with the participation of witnesses, 28,640 units of 2 types of medical drugs, 75 ampoules of 2 types, 46 containers of liquid of 2 types, labels of 26 different drugs of 3 types, 18,280 suppositories without labels and their brands, 40 capsules of 1 type, as well as empty boxes of various drugs and 3 iron molds were found and seized as material evidence. During the investigation prior to the prosecution, it was determined that the organizer of the hidden workshop had ordered the necessary raw materials for drug preparation from unknown individuals via the internet. The total value of the seized drugs and equipment amounts to nearly 10 billion soums. It is reported that the handmade drugs were distributed to several pharmacies in Tashkent city and Bukhara region, and as a result of ongoing activities, the sale of these drugs was halted. Currently, a criminal case has been initiated against the organizer of the workshop under part 3 “a” of Article 186-3 of the Criminal Code (production, storage, transportation, or sale of goods that do not meet safety requirements) and investigative actions are underway. In a rapid operation conducted in cooperation with the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, a person living in Tashkent city, born in 1992, and his accomplice, an employee born in 1996 from one of the banks in the capital, were caught with material evidence while selling 574,560 units of infusion system medical supplies in 798 boxes brought from China for 55,700 dollars. According to the relevant conclusion, these medical supplies, valued at 1 billion soums, are considered unsuitable for use and are prohibited from being stored, sold, transported, and used in medical practice within the territory of Uzbekistan. In connection with this case, a criminal case has been initiated against these individuals under part 3 “a” of Article 186-3 of the Criminal Code, and investigative actions are ongoing.

In the Yunusabad district of Tashkent city, two citizens were caught by law enforcement agencies for illegally distributing advertisements for narcotic substances. This was reported by the press service of the capital's internal affairs department. It has been revealed that these individuals were posting advertising flyers and banners promoting a Telegram channel engaged in drug trafficking on poles and walls in various places around the city. They placed the advertising materials in visible areas and places frequented by people, attempting to attract public attention. As a result of a swift investigation, the individual who printed these advertisements was also identified, and an investigation was conducted with him. “They contacted me via Telegram, saying there was a banner that said 'Job in Russia' and asked about its price. Later, they asked for my address and sent two people to pick up these banners from me,” explained the individual who printed the advertising materials. Based on Article 56-2 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, the relevant documents were formalized regarding the violation. The actions of the offenders were reviewed in the Yunusabad district court, and they were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention. The capital's law enforcement agencies called on the public to be vigilant about the consequences of such illegal activities and emphasized that efforts to combat the spread of narcotic substances are ongoing.

A new case of fraud has been uncovered in Andijan region, where a citizen was demanded a large sum of money under the pretext of sending them to work in a foreign country. This was reported by the press service of the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was noted that employees of the Department's Pakhtabad district division successfully conducted a special operation in cooperation with the internal affairs department. During the operation, a citizen from Andijan, X.M., gained the trust of a resident of Pakhtabad district, O.N., and exploited his desire to earn a high income abroad. He claimed to have acquaintances at the Canadian embassy in Uzbekistan and promised to provide O.N. with a high-paying job in a short time through these connections. Additionally, he demanded 3,000 US dollars for this "service." O.N., believing this, handed over the requested money to the fraudster when the participants of the operation arrested him. The officers caught citizen X.M. with material evidence while he was receiving the money. Currently, a criminal case has been initiated under Article 168 (fraud) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding this incident, and investigative actions are underway. The law enforcement agencies are urging the public to be cautious when encountering such situations and not to fall for unreliable offers. Citizens wishing to find work abroad are advised to act only through legal and trustworthy organizations. It was also reminded that in case of suspicious situations, it is necessary to promptly contact the relevant authorities.

The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, along with the Prosecutor General's Office, investigated cases related to the illegal keeping of wild animals in the territory of Tashkent city and region. It was noted that during the investigations, over 80 mammals and birds of 9 species were found in nurseries and places where wild animals are kept in captivity in Tashkent region and city, including four African lions being kept illegally without permits. Some of these animals have been handed over to the Tashkent Zoo for proper keeping. The investigation work is ongoing. For your information, according to the government decision on "Measures to Improve the Procedure for Keeping Wild Animals," starting from January 1, 2025, it will be prohibited for individuals to keep certain wild animals in captivity and to use wild animals in circus performances.

The children's ombudsman provided information regarding a video circulating on social media about a mother abandoning her child under the age of 1 on the street. It was noted that the incident is under special control and is being investigated by the internal affairs and prosecutor's office. According to initial information, a 21-year-old woman left her 7-month-old child on a street in the Oqdaryo district of Samarkand region and hid herself. Currently, the district internal affairs department is conducting pre-investigation checks regarding the incident. The child has been placed in a children's home intended for infants in the district, and necessary care is being provided. The identity of the woman living in the Syrdarya region has been determined, and the process of providing a legal assessment of her illegal actions towards her child is ongoing. Additional information will be provided on this matter, the report states.

A citizen's appeal has spread on social networks, stating that he broke 52 radar cameras in the Andijan region with a stone. “Out of bitterness, due to the frequent fines, I damaged all 52 cameras located on the streets – in central places. Experts assessed the total damage and placed it at 1 billion soms on my shoulders. I didn't realize I had incurred a larger loss. My car is also in the fine zone. At my age, I have never held 1 billion money,” he said. Additionally, he left his plastic card numbers in his appeal and requested material assistance from citizens to cover the damages as much as possible. The information service of the Andijan regional police confirmed the situation in a statement to Kun.uz, stating that Mahmudjon Sirojiddinov, born in 1976, intentionally damaged cameras installed at intersections in Andijan city with a pneumatic rifle. “M.S. intentionally caused damage by shooting with his own pneumatic rifle of the 'SRKET' type at 51 units of 'Hikvision' brand special automated photo and video recording devices and 1 unit of 'Hikvision' radar complex, belonging to 'TELECOM SOFT' LLC, installed at 29 intersections in Andijan city, which detect violations of traffic rules. According to the conclusion of the forensic examination conducted on the case, the total amount of material damage is 1 billion 147 million soms,” the information provided by the Andijan regional police states. Regarding the incident, the Investigation Department of the Andijan city police has initiated a criminal case against this citizen under part 2, clause "v" of Article 173 of the Criminal Code, and investigative actions are ongoing. Additionally, according to the police official, no precautionary measures have been applied to the accused so far. Article 173, clause "v" of the Criminal Code establishes liability for the intentional destruction or damage to someone else's property, causing significant damage. For this offense, penalties range from a fine of 75 times the minimum wage to imprisonment for up to 3 years. According to open sources, the organization that installed the damaged radars in Andijan city is 'TELECOM SOFT' LLC, located in the Mirzo Ulugbek district of Tashkent city. It operates in the field of computer programming, and the founder, who holds more than 90 percent of the shares, is 'O'ZBEKTELEKOM' JSC.

"Uzgidromet" provided information about the weather in Uzbekistan on April 14, Monday. According to it: In Tashkent city the weather will be slightly cloudy, with short-term rain possible at night and in the morning, and thunderstorms may occur. No precipitation is expected during the day. The wind will blow from the east at a speed of 5-10 m/s. The temperature will be 15-17 degrees at night and 24-26 degrees during the day. In the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region the weather will be slightly cloudy, with no precipitation expected. The wind will blow from the east at a speed of 7-12 m/s. The temperature will be 8-13 degrees at night and 23-28 degrees during the day. In Bukhara and Navoi regions the weather will be slightly cloudy, with no precipitation expected. The wind will blow from the east at a speed of 7-12 m/s. The temperature will be 13-18 degrees at night and 25-30 degrees during the day. In Tashkent, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Samarkand regions the weather will be slightly cloudy, with short-term rain possible in some places at night and in the morning, and thunderstorms may occur. The wind will blow from the east at a speed of 7-12 m/s, and may strengthen to 13-18 m/s in some areas. The temperature will be 12-17 degrees at night and 24-29 degrees during the day. In Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions the weather will be slightly cloudy, with short-term rain possible in some places at night and in the morning, and thunderstorms may occur. The wind will blow from the east at a speed of 7-12 m/s. The temperature will be 15-20 degrees at night and 30-35 degrees during the day. In Andijan, Namangan, and Fergana regions the weather will be slightly cloudy, with short-term rain possible in some places, and thunderstorms may occur. The wind will blow from the east at a speed of 7-12 m/s, and may strengthen to 13-18 m/s in some areas. The temperature will be 12-17 degrees at night and 23-28 degrees during the day. In the foothill and mountainous areas of the Republic the weather will be slightly cloudy, with short-term rain possible in some places, and heavy rain may occur in certain areas, with thunderstorms observed. Flooding events may occur. The wind will blow from the east at a speed of 7-12 m/s, and may strengthen to 15-20 m/s in some areas. The temperature will be 5-10 degrees at night and 13-18 degrees during the day.

Uzbek drivers are now heading to Japan for work, nova24.uz reported. It has been announced that Japan's Shimizu Corporation plans to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan. For this purpose, a cooperation memorandum was signed between the two parties. According to the document, Uzbeks will have the opportunity to work in various regions of Japan. The number of vacancies is expected to increase and new projects will be implemented. Currently, 150 Uzbeks are working in the construction and manufacturing sectors of this company. It is worth noting that recently Uzbekistan and South Korea also announced news regarding labor migration — it has been made easier for Uzbeks to obtain a work visa in the city of Ulsan on an experimental basis.

Assistant to the President Saida Mirziyoyeva expressed her thoughts on the national animation projects being developed for children. She emphasized that it is encouraging that there are modern and quality products among national cartoons, but there is still insufficient work done in this area. Saida Mirziyoyeva said: “I believe that the projects ‘Bek va Lola’, ‘Pomidor do‘ppi’, ‘Donocha’, and ‘Lulu Nana’ will be both interesting and beneficial for our children. I recommend showcasing these cartoons to preschool and school students, as well as discussing the topics with the children.” Greater attention to children's content is necessary Mirziyoyeva noted that creating national content for children should be not only entertaining but also an integral part of education and upbringing. “Of course, this is still not enough. We need to create content for children and elevate attention to this field to a new level,” she said. Local animations should be more integrated into educational institutions She recommended regularly showcasing national animation projects in preschools and schools, integrating them with lessons and educational hours, and discussing the topics with the children.

The proposals of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to implement the procedure for providing the following state services through the Unified Interactive State Services Portal (UISSP) starting from March 1, 2025, will be approved: Approval of schemes for the transportation of hazardous goods by road, excluding low and medium activity radioactive waste; Issuance and deregistration of state registration plates for vehicles and trailers (semi-trailers) for transit registration; Issuance of driver's licenses to foreign citizens and stateless persons. The following will be established: Administrative regulations for providing state services for the approval of schemes for the transportation of hazardous goods by road, excluding low and medium activity radioactive waste; Administrative regulations for providing state services for the issuance and deregistration of state registration plates for vehicles and trailers (semi-trailers) for transit registration will be approved. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Technologies, will take measures to mutually integrate the information systems necessary for electronic applications for state services by February 20, 2025. Amendments and additions will be made to the administrative regulations for providing state services for the issuance of documents and national driver's licenses for candidates for driving motor vehicles and urban electric transport, which will include the issuance of driver's licenses to foreign citizens and stateless persons.

At “Tottenham,” one of the famous clubs in the English Premier League, the internal environment has been disrupted. Head coach Ange Postecoglou stated that there is a “rat” in the team who is leaking internal matters and that he has identified who is doing this. Postecoglou mentioned that the leaking of information regarding “Tottenham’s” internal situation, the condition of the players, and the injured players before matches is benefiting their rivals. The Australian coach emphasized that club officials have been studying this situation for a while and that results will be revealed soon. - Someone is regularly distributing internal information in our camp. We are narrowing down the search scope. We have been studying this issue for a long time and have a complete understanding of how the information is being leaked. We will put an end to this soon, - said Ange Postecoglou. It is worth noting that this season has been very difficult for “Tottenham.” The Londoners are unable to compete for places that grant qualification for European cups next season and have fallen to the lower part of the competition table.