Scandals with khokims, Cannavaro's commentary on the World Cup, and tightening traffic regulations – the week's news

Scandals involving khokims, Cannavaro's commentary on the World Cup, and tightened traffic regulations are the main events of the week.

This week, the spotlight was on scandals involving khokims, the introduction of transparent salaries for Uzbek civil servants, the verdict in the overpass collapse case, tougher penalties for traffic violations, Cannavaro's commentary on the national team's performance at the World Cup, and the collapse of a foundation pit in Tashkent. These and other important news are presented in the weekly digest from Kun.uz.

Scandals surrounding khokims: a visit to someone else's home and the idea of "shameful" plaques

In Uzbekistan, two incidents involving local government officials have sparked widespread public outcry. In Shakhrisabz, a video circulated on social media showing the district khokim entering a private home, criticizing the family's living conditions, and demanding a fine for the owners. After the video was published, the local administration claimed there had been a mistake: the mahalla chairperson had listed the wrong house, and entry permission had allegedly been obtained from the owners.

Meanwhile, in the Chinaz district, the mayor proposed installing special signs on houses and mahallas reading "Shameful House" and "Shameful Mahalla" for residents who fail to comply with public amenities. In the published video, he instructs officials to inspect the houses, assess their condition, and install such signs if necessary. Following a public outcry, the video was deleted.

Both situations sparked active public debate and once again raised questions about acceptable methods of government interaction with citizens, the right to privacy, and respect for human dignity.

Former Namangan Mayor Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

Another Case Related to the Head of the City Administration The court found former Namangan city governor Anvar Otakhuzhaev guilty of corruption, fraud, abuse of office, official forgery, and bribery. For all of his crimes, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison and banned from holding leadership positions or positions of financial responsibility for three years.

Along with the former governor, six other people were convicted in this criminal case. Three received prison terms ranging from 7 to 10.5 years, two were sentenced to correctional labor, and one received a restriction of liberty.

Anvar Otakhuzhaev was arrested in September 2025. According to investigators, he and an accomplice demanded $60,000 for assistance in securing a plot of land for an entrepreneur to construct an apartment building. The court's decision has not yet entered into force and may be appealed.

Tashkent to Create an "Apartment Bank" for Resettlers Under the Renovation Program

A "apartment bank" will be created in Tashkent to relocate homeowners under the renovation program. This initiative is stipulated by a presidential decree and will be implemented on a trial basis until January 1, 2031.

Tashkent Invest will be responsible for establishing the fund. Residential and non-residential premises will be purchased and provided to owners as compensation or temporary housing. Funds from the Tashkent City Development Fund and other sources not prohibited by law may be used for these purposes.

Furthermore, the document provides for the creation of a Water Resources Management Center, the mandatory opening of bookstores in large shopping centers, and the auctioning of 35 markets and shopping malls in the capital, along with their branches.

Drivers may lose discounts on fines for repeat, serious traffic violations.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) adopted a bill aimed at increasing penalties for serious traffic violations. The document proposes a number of new measures, including the loss of the right to discounts on fines for repeat serious violations. It will be considered by the Senate.

According to the bill, temporary vehicle confiscation for periods of six months to one year may be imposed for road hooliganism, illegal racing, drunk driving, and refusing a medical examination. Furthermore, it proposes criminalizing the act of allowing a minor to drive a vehicle if this leads to serious consequences.

According to the deputies, the main goal of the initiative is to reduce the number of road accidents, increase driver accountability, and ensure the safety of all road users.

Uzbekistan to Change Civil Servants' Pay System

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented with proposals to reform the civil servant pay system. The plan is to introduce a unified and transparent system in which wages will be directly dependent on the employee's qualifications, performance, and efficiency. Instead of more than ten different allowances and bonuses, it is proposed to retain three main incentive payments and introduce a new wage scale consisting of 11 grades and six steps. Furthermore, salaries for employees of territorial divisions of ministries and agencies will not exceed the salaries of similar positions in the corresponding khokimiyats.

The new system will cover approximately 54,000 civil servants. According to the authorities, the reform will make salary calculations more fair and transparent, and bonuses will be paid according to clear criteria, including achieving KPIs, implementing innovations, improving skills, and mastering modern technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Part of a pit collapsed at a future hotel construction site in Tashkent.

Part of a pit collapsed at a future hotel construction site in the Almazar district of Tashkent. One person was injured in the incident, and an electrical cable was damaged, temporarily leaving some residents without power.

According to the Tashkent khokimiyat, a special commission was working on the site. The area was cordoned off, and specialists investigated the cause of the accident and inspected the condition of adjacent buildings, road surfaces, and utility lines. According to preliminary information from the Construction Inspectorate, the collapse was caused by the contractor's carelessness during excavation work.

Local residents claim that even before the accident, they had repeatedly appealed to various authorities to verify the legality of construction near residential buildings. They also claim that dozens of trees were cut down before work began on the site. Following the investigation, the actions of those responsible will be legally assessed, and those responsible will be held accountable.

Cannavaro commented on the Uzbekistan national team's performance at the World Cup for the first time.

Uzbekistan national team head coach Fabio Cannavaro held his first press conference since the World Cup, where he answered questions about the team's performance, criticism, and future plans. The Italian coach denied rumors that he left the national team immediately after the tournament, stating that he stayed with the team until their return and then only briefly went home.

Cannavaro also explained the absence of several players from the squad, including Jaloliddin Masharipov. He attributed this to injuries and a lack of match practice, and he described the decision to include Masharipov as possibly his own mistake. Furthermore, the coach denied reports of a €4 million salary and stated that he pays some of his assistants himself.

The national team coach stated that he intends to rejuvenate the national team and provide more opportunities for young players. In conclusion, he called on journalists to maintain mutual respect, emphasizing that he is open to constructive criticism but opposes the dissemination of false information.

Increased heating rates for apartments over 60 square meters. m

The Institute of Fiscal Analysis under the Ministry of Finance has proposed introducing a social norm for heating energy consumption—60 square meters per household, or 16 square meters per registered resident. Any area above this standard would be charged at the full base rate, which is approximately five times higher than the current rate for the general population.

The authors of the initiative believe this approach will make the subsidy system more targeted. According to their data, approximately 45% of apartments in Tashkent are up to 60 square meters, so for most residents, the payment amount will remain unchanged. In the future, they also propose abandoning universal subsidies and switching to cash support for families in need.

However, the Institute of Fiscal Analysis emphasized that this is merely a scientific and analytical proposal submitted for expert discussion. The document is not a draft law or an official decision, and current heating tariffs will remain unchanged.

A verdict has been handed down in the Tashkent overpass collapse case.

A court has sentenced six defendants in the criminal case related to the collapse of a section of an overpass in Tashkent's Mirzo-Ulugbek district in March 2026. The investigation found that substandard construction work costing over 6.1 billion soums was performed on the site, with an additional 1.2 billion soums included in completion certificates without actual completion.

According to the court, the total damage amounted to 7.4 billion soums. An expert assessment revealed numerous violations of construction codes, including errors in reinforcement, concreting, and the construction of a retaining wall. Experts concluded that the collapse could have been avoided had design requirements been followed.

All six defendants were found guilty of official forgery and embezzlement of public funds. They were fined between 112.5 and 116.2 million soums and banned from holding certain positions for one year. 7.4 billion soums previously deposited with the Prosecutor General's Office have been converted into state revenue.

Kazakhstan plans to introduce electronic entry permits for foreigners

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan has submitted a draft resolution for public discussion, which provides for the introduction of electronic entry permits for foreign citizens. It is envisaged that a fee will be charged for issuing the permits, and the cost will depend on established criteria.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the funds will be used for the development of digital infrastructure, system maintenance, and personal data protection. This innovation is being implemented as part of the creation of a unified digital system for recording migration flows.

The public discussion of the draft will last until August 17. After its completion, the document may be revised, and details of the issuance mechanism, permit costs, and the categories of foreigners affected by the changes will be determined later.

Samarkand-2028 Satellite Successfully Launched into Orbit

On August 5, STAR.VISION successfully launched the Samarkand-2028 and Lampung-1 hyperspectral satellites from an offshore launch platform off the coast of China's Shandong Province. This project was implemented through international cooperation and has become one of the largest space projects in the history of Uzbekistan. The name of the satellite, Samarkand-2028, refers to the International Astronautical Congress that will be held in Samarkand in 2028.

The satellite is expected to be used for remote sensing of the Earth, and the data it collects will be used in agriculture, ecology, natural resource monitoring, and other areas.

Uzbekistan will step up efforts to improve energy efficiency and prepare for winter.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the progress of energy sector projects. The focus is on improving the reliability of electricity and gas supplies, modernizing infrastructure, reducing outages, and preparing for the autumn-winter period.

A special headquarters is already operating as a pilot project in the Yangiyul district, handling inquiries from residents and businesses regarding energy supply issues. This system is planned to be implemented in 13 more districts and then expanded to other regions of the country. In addition, instructions have been issued to strengthen oversight of the transparency of connections to electricity and gas grids, reduce energy losses, more actively implement digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and ensure a stable supply of electricity and natural gas to the population and economy.

The United States has introduced a permanent visa deposit of up to $20,000 for citizens of certain countries.

Effective August 3, 2026, new rules came into effect in the United States establishing a permanent visa deposit program for citizens of certain countries. The deposit amount can be $10, $15, or $20,000 and is determined by the consular officer on a case-by-case basis. The new requirements apply only to B-1 and B-2 tourist and business visas.

Visa deposits may be required from citizens of countries not included in the US Visa Waiver Program and who do not meet a number of criteria, including a high rate of visa violations and insufficient information sharing. According to the State Department, the initial list included 50 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan is not included. The deposit is refunded upon timely departure from the United States and compliance with all conditions of stay. In the event of a visa violation, overstay, or the submission of certain categories of immigration applications, the deposit may be forfeited in full. The State Department also reserves the right to expand or reduce the list of countries covered by the program.