Over the past several years, the fight against corruption has become a central pillar of Uzbekistan’s state policy and reform agenda. What began as legislative modernization has gradually evolved into a comprehensive transformation of institutions, governance practices, and public administration systems.
Today, Uzbekistan is shaping a structured and increasingly institutionalized anti-corruption model that combines legal reform, digital governance, public accountability, and international engagement.
Building a Strong Legal Foundation
A key milestone was the adoption of the Law “On Combating Corruption” in 2017. Since then, more than 30 anti-corruption-related legal and regulatory acts have been introduced, significantly strengthening the country’s legal framework.
Regulations on conflict of interest and gift policies for public officials have been formalized, criminal liability for bribery has been tightened, and anti-corruption commitments have been embedded in the revised Constitution of Uzbekistan. The constitutional anchoring of anti-corruption principles sends a strong political signal: integrity is no longer a technical reform issue — it is a state priority.
Digitalization as an Anti-Corruption Tool
A defining feature of Uzbekistan’s approach is the use of digital transformation to reduce discretionary decision-making and human interaction in public service delivery. Guided by the principle “documents move, not citizens,” Public Service Centers have been established nationwide. Through the Unified Interactive Public Services Portal, more than 775 services are now available online.
Transparency has also been institutionalized through digital tools. The Open Data Portal (data.gov.uz), the Open Budget Portal (openbudget.uz), and mandatory publication of 42 categories of socially significant data have strengthened public oversight. As a result, Uzbekistan improved its position by 138 places in the global Open Data ranking, reaching 11th place worldwide and ranking first in Central Asia — a signal to investors and international partners that transparency reforms are delivering measurable outcomes.
Institutional Architecture and Accountability
In 2020, Uzbekistan established the Anti-Corruption Agency reporting directly to the President and accountable to Parliament. National and regional anti-corruption councils were formed, along with specialized parliamentary committees.
An Annual National Anti-Corruption Report is now submitted to Parliament, creating a formal mechanism for evaluating progress, identifying gaps, and maintaining political accountability.
Moreover, internal anti-corruption compliance units have been introduced almost in all state bodies and organizations, including state-owned banks. These units are tasked with risk assessment, prevention mechanisms, and internal oversight — moving the system from reactive enforcement toward preventive governance.
Reforming Public Procurement and High-Risk Sectors
Public procurement — traditionally one of the highest corruption-risk areas — has undergone significant reform. A new Law on Public Procurement was adopted, and electronic platforms (d.xarid.uz, e-xarid.uz, cooperation.uz) now ensure transparent and competitive procedures.
Targeted initiatives such as “Corruption-Free Sector” (in construction, higher education, healthcare, and procurement), “Corruption-Free District,” and “Open and Accountable Ministry” pilot projects demonstrate a risk-based approach rather than symbolic policy declarations.
Empowering Citizens and Civil Society
Uzbekistan has introduced mechanisms to incentivize whistleblowers and protect individuals reporting corruption-related offenses. Together with EU and UNDP the Eantikor.uz electronic platform and a dedicated call center allow citizens to report violations efficiently and securely.
In addition, approximately 10 billion UZS annually is allocated in grants and social contracts to support civil society initiatives in anti-corruption and transparency.
The launch of the Virtual Anti-Corruption Academy in 2025 aims to institutionalize integrity education and build professional capacity across public administration.
Strengthening Civil Society and Independent Oversight
A sustainable anti-corruption framework cannot rely solely on state institutions. Recognizing this, Uzbekistan has placed growing emphasis on empowering civil society organizations, independent experts, and investigative journalists as key stakeholders in the integrity ecosystem.
In cooperation with international partners — including European Union institutions, UNDP, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), GIZ, and other development agencies — Uzbekistan has expanded structured support for civil society engagement in anti-corruption efforts. This cooperation includes grant mechanisms, joint research initiatives, capacity-building programs, and technical assistance projects aimed at strengthening institutional independence and professional standards.
Particular attention is being paid to the role of media and investigative journalism in promoting accountability. Training programs, access to open data tools, and international partnerships contribute to raising professional standards and reinforcing ethical reporting practices in corruption-related investigations.
In addition, a Regional Research Center on Anti-Corruption Issues has been established in Uzbekistan as a non-governmental organization. The Center aims to conduct independent analytical studies, risk assessments, and parallel monitoring of the implementation of international anti-corruption standards, including UNCAC and OECD-related frameworks. By providing evidence-based assessments and policy recommendations, the Center is expected to contribute to constructive dialogue between state institutions, civil society, and international partners.
Through these measures, Uzbekistan is gradually institutionalizing a multi-stakeholder anti-corruption model — one in which government agencies, civil society, academia, and media operate within a shared accountability framework.
Regional and International Leadership
Uzbekistan has significantly expanded and deepened its international engagement in the field of anti-corruption over recent years. The country hosts the annual Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum, which has evolved into a high-level platform for dialogue among policymakers, international organizations, financial institutions, and civil society representatives. In addition, Uzbekistan launched the Central Asia Regional Anti-Corruption Platform aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and supporting more effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) across Central Asia.
With the support of UNDP, Uzbekistan has also developed innovative digital instruments, including the national platform for assessing anti-corruption performance of state bodies and evaluating corruption risks — e-anticor.uz. The platform introduces data-driven monitoring, comparative performance analysis, and institutional accountability mechanisms, reinforcing preventive governance rather than reactive enforcement.
International cooperation has been institutionalized at an unprecedented scale. Uzbekistan maintains active partnerships with more than 15 international organizations — including UN institutions, the OECD, OSCE, World Bank and other multilateral actors — as well as with anti-corruption authorities from over 30 countries. More than 25 bilateral agreements and memoranda have been signed to formalize knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, joint training initiatives, and policy dialogue.
In recognition of its reform trajectory and growing role in global anti-corruption governance, it has been decided that the 12th session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP12) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption will be held in Uzbekistan in 2027. This decision reflects increasing international confidence in the country’s institutional development and its constructive contribution to multilateral integrity frameworks.
Such comprehensive international engagement not only enhances domestic policy design through benchmarking and peer learning, but also strengthens Uzbekistan’s standing within global governance architecture, positively influencing investor confidence, international rankings, and long-term economic partnerships.
A System in Transition
Uzbekistan’s anti-corruption reform is not framed as a short-term campaign, but as a systemic transformation of governance culture.
By combining constitutional anchoring, digital transparency, compliance-based prevention, public participation, and international benchmarking, the country is gradually moving toward a more accountable and integrity-driven state model.
While challenges remain — as in any structural reform process — Uzbekistan’s trajectory reflects a clear shift from declarative commitments to institutionalized mechanisms. For international observers, investors, and policy analysts, the country’s experience offers an evolving case study of governance reform in a rapidly transforming region.