Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree “On measures to further improve the anti-corruption system in the Republic of Uzbekistan” on 27 May.

The document is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the anti-corruption system, creating the most favorable business climate and promoting the country’s positive image in the international arena.

The head of Uzbekistan approved the State Anti-Corruption Program for 2019–2020. The President also updated the composition of the Republican Interdepartmental Anti-Corruption Commission headed by the Chairman of the Senate Nigmatilla Yuldashev.

Zhokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent city kengashes of people’s deputies, as well as district and city kengashes of people’s deputies will form commissions to combat corruption, the decree says.

The commissions will study the state of affairs in the field of countering corruption in the field and will systematically inform the committees of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis on countering corruption and judicial and legal issues.

The decree defines the priorities of the state policy in the field of countering corruption in the medium term:

• strengthening the independence of the judiciary, eliminating the conditions for improper influence on judges in any form;
• formation of a public service system based on a transparent procedure for competitive selection, appointment and promotion of civil servants, setting for them a specific list of restrictions, prohibitions, incentive measures and other mechanisms to prevent corruption;
• the phased introduction of the system of declaring the incomes of civil servants and ensuring an adequate level of their wages, as well as improving the organizational and legal framework for resolving conflicts of interest during the passage of the civil service;
• introduction of effective organizational and legal mechanisms for the protection of persons reporting information on corruption offenses;
• raising the legal awareness and legal culture of the population, strengthening in the society intolerant attitude towards corruption;
• increasing accountability and transparency of the activities of state bodies and organizations;
• ensuring genuine freedom of activity of civil society institutions, the media and their involvement in the preparation, conduct and monitoring of the implementation of anti-corruption measures.

The primary task of the heads of state bodies and organizations is to eradicate in the relevant field the causes and conditions conducive to corruption offenses by implementing effective departmental anti-corruption programs, introducing accountability and transparency of their activities, practical measures to ensure compliance with ethical rules and prevent conflicts of interest.

From July 1, 2019, state bodies will periodically conduct a mandatory assessment of corruption risks arising from the implementation of the tasks and functions assigned.

Heads of government and local executive authorities are personally liable for the late identification and misjudgment of corruption risks, as well as the assumption of repeated corruption offenses, the decree says.

From September 1, a set of measures on the legal education of young people in the field of anti-corruption should be introduced in educational institutions.

The head of Uzbekistan also instructed to strengthen anti-corruption topics in curricula in general secondary, vocational, and higher education.

From August 1, as an experiment with the involvement of the public and leading experts, including foreign ones, the “Sphere without Corruption” project will be launched in the areas of capital construction and higher education. From April 1, 2020, the project will be gradually implemented in other areas.

The President has set up a Special Commission to develop measures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of activities in the field of combating corruption. The head of the Presidential Administration, Zaynilobiddin Nizomiddinov, headed this commission.

The Commission will analyze the state of the applicable legal mechanisms and practical measures of public control aimed at countering corruption, study the activities of law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including units that exercise internal control, in the field of systemic counteraction to corruption and other crimes, review of mechanisms to combat corruption and interdepartmental interactions in this area, etc.

By 1 September, a special commission should work out proposals on the fundamental improvement of law enforcement agencies in the field of combating corruption.

There will also be developed a draft Roadmap on comprehensive measures aimed at the effective use of public control mechanisms in the field of countering corruption, including strengthening the role of the chambers of Oliy Majlis and political parties, improving the procedure for accountability of law enforcement agencies to parliament and introducing transparent and effective methods citizen participation in decision making.