Uzbekistan Deepens Its Anti-Corruption Efforts Through a Series of Thematic Discussions
22 October 2025 —Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Ahead of the Fifth Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum, the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan (ACA), together with the Central Finance and Contracting Agency Latvia, European Union (EU), German Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, Regional Dialogue (RD), Transparency International (TI) Latvia, U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a series of thematic discussions addressing key areas of anti-corruption efforts. The events brought together representatives of government institutions, international organizations, civil society, the business sector, and the media to exchange expertise and practical solutions for building integrity in Uzbekistan.
Roundtable on Whistleblower Protection
The roundtable presented and discussed the draft Law “On the Protection of Persons Reporting Corruption and Corruption Offenses.” The discussion explored how Uzbekistan can translate international experience into practical steps for implementing the law and ensuring effective protection for whistleblowers. Monika Kalinauskiene from Lithuania’s General Prosecutor’s Office shared EU best practices in safeguarding individuals who report misconduct, while Erekle Urushadze from the OECD outlined lessons learned from member countries of the OECD Working Group on Bribery and those participating in the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan. Duman Smakov, editor-in-chief of Factcheck.kz, spoke about the role of media and civil society in supporting the implementation of such type of laws, and Agnija Birule from Transparency International Latvia presented Latvia’s experience and recommendations for Uzbekistan.
Training for Civil Society and Business
OECD and Transparency International Latvia co-organised a training for representatives of civil society organisations and business associations to strengthen their skills and knowledge required to identify corruption risks in public resource management and effectively monitor public spending. Both international experts from OECD (Julia Fromholz, Head of the Anti-Corruption Division, Oleksandra Onysko, Analyst) and Transparency International Latvia (Agnija Birule, Deputy Director, Arturs Bikovs, Researcher), as well as local participants, agreed on the significant role that civil society and the private sector can and should play in ensuring accountability and transparency, contributing to long-lasting anti-corruption reforms in Uzbekistan.
Prevention of Corruption at the Regional Level
A separate discussion explored how regional and local authorities can play a stronger role in advancing nationwide anti-corruption initiatives. The focus was on the Islands of Integrity methodology, an approach that helps local governments identify corruption risks and design action plans. Experts Ana Vasilache, co-author of the methodoкlogy, and Elyor Khasanov, one of its local practitioners, shared the insights of how the methodology was implemented for the first time in Uzbekistan in three regions: Tashkent City (Mirzo-Ulugbek District), Jizzakh Region (Jizzakh City), and Bukhara Region (Vobkent District). Participants discussed how this model could be expanded to other districts across Uzbekistan.
Transparency and Openness as Tools Against Corruption
An event organized in cooperation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan focused on the importance of transparent governance and openness as key enablers of integrity and accountability. The discussion brought together government officials, open data specialists, and international anti-corruption experts to exchange insights and practical experiences from Uzbekistan and beyond. Participants exchanged perspectives on government policies and initiatives promoting openness and discussed practical applications of open data in preventing and combating corruption. Natalia Carfi presented the Open Up Guide on Anti-Corruption, outlining lessons learned from its implementation in Uzbekistan. Radu Nicolae highlighted the significance of publishing official data and conducting public consultations as integral tools in prevention and deterrence. Azimiddin Rakhmatov emphasized the contribution of the private sector and the importance of co-operation between businesses and government institutions in advancing transparency and good governance.
About the Forum
The V Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum, taking place on 22–23 October 2025 in Tashkent, serves as Uzbekistan’s leading platform for fostering the exchange of practical solutions, promoting the application of international best practices and innovative tools into public governance. It gathers annually more than 250 representatives of government institutions, state-owned enterprises, the business sector, civil society, the media, and international organizations. Held under the theme “From Discussions to Real Change,” this year’s Forum highlights the use of artificial intelligence in combating corruption, new approaches to compliance control, and innovative methods for anti-corruption education and awareness.