At the meeting of the National Council for Combating Corruption on August 21 this year, the regulations on the National and Territorial Councils for Combating Corruption were approved.

According to the Regulations presented to Kun.uz by the Anti-Corruption Agency, decisions made by the regional anti-corruption council of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent are binding on all government bodies, public associations and other organizations in the region.

The anti-corruption agency also reported that at the constituent meetings of regional councils, khokims of regions and the city of Tashkent were approved as chairmen of anti-corruption councils.

In an interview with Kun.uz,   a representative of the agency said that the chairmen of regional (Tashkent city) councils of people’s deputies were included in the approved standard composition of territorial councils as their chairmen. For this reason, the khokims of the regions, who head local councils at the constituent assemblies, were also represented as chairmen of the regional anti-corruption council. The standard composition also includes the heads of regional departments of ministries and departments, representatives of NGOs, the media, entrepreneurs and veterans.

The representative of the agency also said that in the future, it is expected that the khokims will be removed from the posts of chairmen of local councils. After that, the person who becomes the chairman of the local council will be approved by the chairman of the local council for combating corruption.

The Territorial Council acts in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the decisions of the National Council for Combating Corruption. It has been entrusted with ensuring the implementation of state programs in the field of combating corruption, coordinating the activities of organizations in this area, raising legal awareness, collecting and analyzing information on the state and trends of corruption, monitoring anti-corruption measures and adopting recommendations for improving legislation.

The regulation provides that the regional council carries out its activities on a regular basis and meets as needed, but at least once a quarter. The functions of the working body of regional councils are performed by the secretariats of the Jokarga Kenesh of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent city councils of people’s deputies, respectively.

The chairpersons of the regional councils direct the activities and meetings of the council, approve the agenda and work plans of the council, and have a casting vote at its meetings.

On the basis of the presidential decree “On additional measures to improve the anti-corruption system in the Republic of Uzbekistan” dated June 29, 2020, the Republican Interdepartmental Anti-Corruption Commission and its regional interagency commissions were transformed into the National Anti-Corruption Council and its territorial councils.

Senate Speaker Tanzila Narbayeva has been appointed Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Council, and Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber, has been appointed Deputy Chairperson. In addition, the National Council includes almost all ministers and heads of state bodies.

The Anti-Corruption Agency, created on the basis of this decree, is the working body of the National Council, which is responsible for organizing the implementation of decisions adopted by the Council.