Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture sentenced for corruption

Azimjon Nazarov, the former First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, has been convicted of multiple criminal offenses, according to a court ruling. The total damage caused by Nazarov’s actions exceeds $500,000. He is the third high-ranking official from the Ministry of Agriculture to be prosecuted in recent times.

Azimjon Nazarov Photo: Kun.uz

Nazarov, who has also served as Deputy Minister of Innovative Development and First Deputy Minister of Water Resources, was sentenced following an investigation into his involvement with his private company, Nazar Business and Technology. According to court documents, Nazarov founded the company in 2008 and remained its sole owner until 2017, despite being appointed to a government position in December 2017.

The investigation uncovered a corrupt scheme linked to a $376.71 million World Bank-funded project aimed at improving water resource management in southern Karakalpakstan. In 2016, Nazar Business and Technology signed a $950,320 contract with the Ministry of Water Resources to provide consultancy services. However, Nazarov and his associates embezzled funds by submitting false reports for work that was never completed.

The Ministry of Financial Control confirmed in its report that $562,428 was overpaid to Nazarov’s company for non-existent services. Additionally, during his tenure as First Deputy Minister of Water Resources, the cost of a major pump station modernization project was unjustifiably inflated by $95.4 million, and 3.7 billion UZS were misappropriated from the state budget.

Nazarov was held in custody from January 10 to May 21, 2024, during which he denied all charges. Despite his plea for leniency, the court found him guilty based on witness testimonies and other evidence. He was convicted under several articles of the Criminal Code, including embezzlement, forgery, and money laundering.

Nazarov was sentenced to 4.5 years of restricted freedom and banned from holding financially responsible or official positions for two years. The court also ordered the confiscation of 7.08 billion UZS deposited in his account to cover the damages caused, along with the seizure of the Nazar Business and Technology office in Tashkent.

This case follows earlier convictions of former Agriculture Minister Aziz Voitov and former Deputy Minister Alisher Turayev for corruption, further highlighting systemic issues within the Ministry of Agriculture.

#crime #corruption #agriculture