The "Big Game" in Neighborhoods: Mayor's Assistants Embezzle Preferential Loans

16 July 2026, 14:121 min read154

New crimes involving the embezzlement of preferential loan funds allocated to support low-income families and develop entrepreneurship have been uncovered in Uzbekistan. Pre-investigation checks conducted by the Department under the Prosecutor General's Office have revealed an "alliance" between mayor's assistants and fraudulent entrepreneurs.

Zamin.uz provides details of financial irregularities identified in several regions of the country.

How did the loans "disappear"?

According to investigative data, mayor's assistants in neighborhoods and heads of private enterprises (LLCs) played the primary roles in the criminal schemes. They cashed out and misappropriated preferential funds allocated in the names of citizens through forged documents.

The table below provides an analysis of three major embezzlement cases identified:

Region	Involved Individuals	Embezzled Amount	Fraudulent Scheme Used
Andijan Region, Oltinkol District	Officials of "U.T." and "Q.A." LLCs, mayor's assistant of "Qayirma" neighborhood	442.3 million soums	Embezzlement of funds allocated for greenhouse construction by documenting work as "completed" when it was not actually performed.
Sirdaryo Region, Mirzaobod District	Former mayor's assistant of "Toshkent" neighborhood and supply companies	248 million soums	Embezzlement of preferential loan funds allocated to eight citizens through supplier firms.
Andijan City	Head of "L.A." LLC and former mayor's assistant of "Farobiy" neighborhood	163 million soums	Pocketing preferential loans allocated to neighborhood residents through fraud.

Rule of Law: Criminal Cases Initiated

Criminal cases have been initiated regarding all identified incidents under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Investigative actions are currently being carried out by law enforcement agencies.

Control over the targeted spending of every soum allocated by the state for social support of the population is being strengthened. The guilty parties face legal accountability and heavy fines.