In Uzbekistan, administrations extort money from students in Karakalpakstan for “sports development”

In universities, lyceums and schools of the sovereign republic of Karakalpakstan, which is part of Uzbekistan, administrations force students to transfer money to the account of the non-existent Fund “Barkamol avlod uchun”. In appeals to help the sport by transferring money, the administrations of educational institutions cannot precisely formulate, either it’s about the Fund, or sports games of pupils and students of the country “Barkamol avlod”. Competitions will be held in the spring in Kashkadarya region.

As a human rights activist from Karakalpakstan informed ACCA, it was established the fee depending on status. “50 000 sums ($5) are collected from university teachers. Teachers of lyceums, together with pupils, have to fork out 30 000 sums ($3). Senior students from secondary schools pay 20 000 ($2),” the human rights activist said.

As proof, the ACCA editors received confirmation in the form of photos of two bank printouts. You can see the account number in the Bank “Kishloq Qurilish”. The printouts indicate the amount that the parent paid for the schoolchild [15 610 sums], and the teacher’s payment figures [22 300 sums]. There is also an inscription that the bank withdrew a fee of 7-10% of the payment amount for the transfer.

Even rough estimates show that significant amounts are accumulated. In Nukus there are seven universities and branches, in each of them there are from 1000 to 5000 students. Only in Karakalpak State University, more than 10 000 students will replenish an unknown account with $50 000.

“An impressive amount is being collected throughout the republic, this is at least more than $100 000. It seems that someone, endowed with unlimited power in Karakalpakstan, simply decided to replenish his pocket under a plausible pretext through the education system,” the activist in Karakalpak says.

In a conversation with ACCA journalist, the human rights activist noted that such illegal practice has been going on for the entire recent history of Uzbekistan, but this year the system of extortion has undergone changes. “There is a difference from previous years. Previously, money for the development of sports was withdrawn from wages without their knowledge. Now people themselves must pay either in cash or by credit card. So to say, a person voluntarily transfers his money,” the human rights activist emphasized.