In his Address to the Oliy Majlis and the multi-ethnic people of Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev identified the fight against corruption as an absolute priority of state policy.

The Chairman of the Public Council under the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Doctor of Law, Professor Foziljon Otakhonov, commented on this matter:

– The President’s declaration of a “state of emergency” in 2026 to combat corruption signals an uncompromising, strict, and systematic approach to this scourge. Corruption is recognized as a serious threat to national development, the rule of law, and public trust, and it is explicitly stated that allowing it undermines reforms.

The Address highlighted the introduction of the position of Deputy responsible for compliance and anti-corruption internal control in all state bodies and organizations as a key stage of institutional reform. 

This decision emphasizes that the fight against corruption is not a separate campaign, but a continuous, integrated mechanism of state governance. In particular, characterizing individuals who obstruct compliance services as complicit in corruption and imposing strict accountability measures establishes new legal standards in the fight against corruption.

The role of legal services within state bodies is vital for the effective implementation of internal control. Legal services strengthen the legal foundation of internal control by ensuring that internal documents and decisions comply with applicable laws, conducting rigorous legal vetting of corruption risks, and preventing violations of contracts and public procurement regulations. 

At the same time, legal officers ensure strict adherence to the principle of the rule of law in the decision-making process of officials, thus fulfilling a “preventive” function.

Strengthening internal control in the fight against corruption requires that legal services operate independently, professionally, and responsibly. If management ignores the impartial conclusions and legal warnings from legal services, the effectiveness of the compliance system naturally decreases. Therefore, enhancing the institutional status and influence of legal services is critical to anti-corruption efforts.

At the same time, the internal control system should not be limited to internal mechanisms. It must be implemented in coordination with public oversight through Public Councils attached to state bodies. Public Councils play an important role in ensuring the openness and transparency of state bodies, incorporating citizens’ appeals and public opinion into decision-making, and reducing corruption risks. They provide a mechanism for state bodies to be accountable to the public and for independent, objective evaluation of their decisions.

Collaboration between Public Councils and the compliance system – including discussions of internal control results, providing recommendations and conclusions, and holding open hearings – strengthens public confidence in anti-corruption efforts. This process expands citizen participation in state governance and forms a resolute public stance against corruption.

In conclusion, the measures outlined in the President’s Address to strengthen compliance and anti-corruption internal control will be fully effective only when implemented through the professional and independent work of legal services and coordinated with public oversight conducted through Public Councils. 

This integrated approach, based on mutual responsibility among the state, society, and citizens, is critical to combating corruption and to building a fair, transparent, and trusted system of state governance.

Norgul Abduraimova, UzA