Uzbek authorities have detained a former deputy minister of internal affairs and head of the Department of Public Security and a former head of the Department of Corrections, with the officials suspected of large-scale embezzlement of state property, abuse of office and related offences. 

The former senior interior ministry officials detained and remanded in custody are Bekmurod Abdullayev and Rustam Tursunov, respectively.

Head of the State Assets Management Agency (UzSAMA), Akmalxon Ortikov, was, meanwhile, dismissed on January 26 after allegations were raised that agency officials placed a state-owned land plot, valued at 250bn som ($20.6mn), in a closed auction, then sold it for only 120bn soms ($9.9mn).

Amid corruption probes, many other officials have been dismissed.

According to the presidential press service, UZS186bn ($15.3mn) in budget funds were embezzled through state procurement within the interior ministry. The claims led to the criminal case against Abdullayev and Tursunov.

The suspected scheme involved road infrastructure procurement, including traffic lights, which were declared as imported products but were domestically manufactured, inflating costs.

Abdullayev served as deputy minister and head of public security from April 2021, while Tursunov led the corrections department from February 2021. 

Both were dismissed by presidential decree on November 3, 2025. 

The detentions were announced against the backdrop of a sweeping review of law enforcement and public security announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a videoconference meeting in Tashkent on January 27. 

Mirziyoyev pointed to broader governance failures, stating that in a short period authorities had identified UZS 53 trillion ($4.4bn) in budget revenue losses, financial shortcomings and irregularities in foreign trade operations worth more than $8bn. 

Corruption schemes amounting to UZS 4.2 trillion ($347.6mn) were uncovered, with UZS 1.3 trillion ($107.6mn) recovered and 55 people arrested.

Mirziyoyev cited cases involving Uzbekneftegaz and UzSAMA.

The president said that while Tashkent’s economic and social development had accelerated, criminal groups seeking to “make easy money” had become more active, exploiting outdated approaches within the law enforcement system.

“Wherever life improves and incomes increase, criminal organisations seeking to make easy money also become more active,” the presidential press service said, adding that law enforcement in the capital had failed to move beyond old “patterns” despite sufficient resources and personnel.

The president criticised weak coordination between the National Guard, interior ministry units and emergency services, particularly in large markets and crowded areas. 

Digitalisation efforts were also singled out, with situation centres operating only at the Chorsu and Farkhod markets, a situation deemed unsatisfactory.

Mirziyoyev criticised the performance of Deputy Interior Minister for Information Technology Zufar Kurbanov, noting that “more than two years” after his appointment, tangible results in digitalising the system had yet to materialise. 

He noted the shortcomings were primarily managerial.

As part of the review, officials responsible for public security were held accountable. 

The head of the Tashkent City Police Department, R. Sultonkhodjayev and the acting city prosecutor, A. Ormonov, were issued “reprimands” and placed on six months’ probation. 

Earlier, Colonel Hotam Kodirov, head of the Crime Prevention Service, was relieved of his duties.

The president also detailed crime patterns across the country’s districts, noting that Chilanzor ranked first in domestic violence, robbery and hooliganism, while Yunusabad led in assaults. 

Yashnabad and Mirabad recorded the highest number of murders last year, Almazar the most serious injuries and Shaykhantohur the most robberies.

Additionally, Mirziyoyev announced the launch of a new “capital model” for public safety, beginning in Tashkent after being piloted in Chilanzor district. 

Under the model, patrol and preventive services will move to a three-shift, round-the-clock system, with response times targeted at five minutes. 

Deputy heads of district internal affairs departments will oversee night operations directly in neighbourhoods and assume full responsibility during those hours.

Police and National Guard officers will receive compensation equal to 5% of their base salary for each hour of night duty. 

Drone patrols will be introduced in densely populated areas, while any appeal made to a uniformed officer will be treated as equivalent to a call to “102”. 

Communication buttons will be installed at prevention inspectors’ offices in all 55 neighbourhoods in Chilanzor, allowing residents to contact officers 24/7 via mobile devices.

The meeting also focused on drug crime, with officials noting that 95% of synthetic drugs are distributed online, payments are made using cryptocurrency and domestic drug laboratories are emerging. 

The Narcotics and Firearms Control Agency was criticised for being limited to analysis and international cooperation, prompting a decision to expand its authority to coordinate and monitor enforcement efforts. 

A separate service for organised crime will be created within the interior ministry.

Mirziyoyev expressed concern that 259 “heavy” youth and athletes were among organised criminal groups arrested in the capital last year, citing a rise in underground fights organised for money. 

Authorities were instructed to tighten oversight and create pathways for employment and structured training.

Cybercrime was stated as another area of concern, with reported offence types increasing from 18 to 62. 

Officials cited the growing use of artificial intelligence to imitate voices and facial expressions, steal personal data and distribute malicious files, with misappropriated funds often diverted via cryptocurrency. 

A new cybercrime department will be established within the interior ministry, while the justice ministry will open a separate department for cybercrime and digital law.

The president called for a critical review of security management across government agencies and enterprises and announced legislative reforms, including a draft law on law enforcement activities and the introduction of “legal audits” by the justice ministry.