Unscrupulous people, who have a criminal record for financial abuse, continue to work in senior positions in leading organizations in Uzbekistan. The reaction of the state to this is weak.
The initiative group “Careful people with disabilities” circulated a statement on the social network in which they try to draw the attention of all concerned members of society, government agencies and international organizations to what is happening among NGOs of disabled people and those who are directly related to obtaining financial resources from donors. As follows from the text, the initiators of its appearance are members of the Association of disabled people of Uzbekistan.
As an example, the nomination of Oybek Isakov (repeatedly convicted of economic crimes) to the leadership of the Association of disabled people’s NGOs of Uzbekistan is given.
“In his biography and long-term work in NGOs, he has a criminal court conviction for embezzlement by misappropriation, giving and receiving a bribe, forgery, abuse of power or official authority, fraud, false business, tax evasion,” the authors of the statement write.
Oybek was nominated for this position by disabled people who also have a criminal record. Farhad Abdurakhmanov and Oybek Pulatov then naturally took the leadership positions of the deputy chairmen of the association.
“They became famous for their illegal actions with the financial resources of the Tashkent branch of the Association of disabled people “Mehribonlik”, for which they were convicted by a criminal court and then expelled from the members of this organization. In it, Farhad was a member of the Council, and Oybek was a member of the audit commission. It’s worth noting that Abdurakhmanov and Pulatov are close relatives,” the statement says. “Occupying such positions, they, with the help of the chairman of this organization, Raykhon Nurmukhamedova (whom they also promoted to this position), beat out money from subordinate regional organizations, crediting them to a special account opened by them. After the action, charitable funds were spent on the personal needs of this trio.”
As follows from the statement, Oybek Isakov and Farhad Abdurakhmanov were held accountable for extorting money from applicants for guaranteed studies at higher educational institutions after additional enrollment.
It’s alleged that for three years Oybek Isakov has been accused in the case of the financial pyramid of Akhmadbay Chinazsky. In May of this year, Isakov was convicted for the fourth time in this case. Currently, the trial in this case is ongoing, and Isakov continues to participate as an accused.
For all his 25 years of work in the NGO of disabled people, Isakov was convicted eight times for his crimes of a corruption nature, getting off with suspended sentences.
Unidentified activists cite the fact that Hilola Mirzarakhimova became the chairman of the Association of women with disabilities “Inclusive hayot [life]” (also a member of the Association of disabled people), registered by the Ministry of Justice of the country. The authors of the text have no doubt that earlier, as chairman of the Yunusabad branch of Mehribonlik, she plundered charitable assistance.
“It’s not clear why now all these people with such a baggage of crimes proudly represent the Association that has been turned into their own ‘feeding trough’ and which is replenished at the expense of donor funds?” the authors of the appeal ask.
Suspected of corruption don’t consider it necessary to communicate with the members of the Association, don’t report to them on the grants received or other funding.
Now the Association led by Isakov receives funding from state and international organizations (Public Fund for Support of NGOs and other civil society institutions under the Oliy Majlis, UNDP, OSCE, UNHCHR). The drafters of the appeal are indignant. “These persons think only about their personal benefit, don’t report to the members of the Association for money, don’t solve problems; using their skills in corruption schemes, they mislead other people with disabilities, especially those living in the regions …”
The authors appeal to international organizations with a request to stop working with people who have a reputation as criminals.
Earlier, ACCA wrote about how the leader of the opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston”, Khasanboy Burkhanov, accused Andre Novak (a politician from the German left-wing party) of corruption. According to the oppositionist, at the elections to the Parliament of Uzbekistan, the German observer compromised himself by a joint repast with representatives of the criminal world. Mr. Novak is the head of the Office of German Bundestag deputy Andre Khan.
On December 20, 2020, after arriving in Tashkent, Andre Novak celebrated his birthday in the company of guests, among whom was Oybek Isakov. According to Burkhanov, he is ‘repeatedly convicted for economic crimes and fraud’.
The celebration in honor of the party functionary’s birthday was attended by two candidates for deputies of the Parliament of Uzbekistan. They presented the observer with painting and cognac, and also paid the bill for a fish restaurant for 11 people.
Isakov really worked as a lawyer for the creator of the financial pyramid Akhmad Tursunbaev. On October 28, 2019, the Regional Court of Tashkent found Tursunbaev guilty of committing a crime under paragraphs “a”, “c” of part 3 of Article 168 (“Fraud”) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. Nearly 12,000 people suffered from the machinations of the entrepreneur.
In May 2019, Oybek Isakov was sentenced to 6 years of probation under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code for fraud and money laundering. The court took into account the physical condition and social activities of the person under investigation.
The Association of disabled people of Uzbekistan was established on February 21, 2018. Currently, it unites 30 NGOs and public organizations of disabled people, operating both at the national and regional levels. There are 11 regional branches of the Association.
In 2018, the Association of disabled people of Uzbekistan was registered with the Committee on Economic and Social Rights at the UN Headquarters in New York and received the status of a consultative member of ECOSOC. The Association is a member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Disabled People’s International (DPI).
“The problem of corruption in NGOs has existed since the very beginning of the creation of the system at the end of the 90s of the last century, and this is facilitated, in particular, by the lack of openness of data on the work of organizations. This situation is disastrous for civil society in Uzbekistan. It’s still in its infancy under the pressure of the state,” states the ACCA expert.
How objective the insider and open information about the activities of the leadership of the Association of disabled people can be shown by the investigation, but it’s not yet available. As there are no refutations from those accused of corruption.
