TASHKENT: Uzbekistan Anti-Corruption Agency’s Director Akmal Burkhanov has praised the State of Qatar’s robust campaign against corruption. He commended the anti-corruption efforts of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, which led to the establishment of the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award (ACE Award).
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) in Tashkent, Burkhanov said that corruption is a global challenge affecting every nation, including Uzbekistan. He highlighted the significance of the ACE Award in acknowledging outstanding anti-corruption activists worldwide, expressing the award’s value in recognizing the roles of NGOs, civil society, and the press in exposing and combatting corruption. Burkhanov stressed the need for the global anti-corruption campaign to extend beyond government agencies.
Describing corruption as an evolving global challenge, Burkhanov underscored the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of experiences among countries that have made significant progress in anti-corruption efforts. He expressed hope for continued collaboration and expertise exchange between Uzbekistan and the State of Qatar to eradicate corruption, praising Doha’s exceptional achievements in anti-corruption.
Uzbekistan’s Anti-Corruption Reforms
Burkhanov mentioned his meetings with officials from Qatari anti-corruption agencies, including the Public Prosecution and the State Audit Bureau, during his visit to Doha in October. The visit resulted in an agreement between Qatar’s State Audit Bureau and Uzbekistan’s Anti-Corruption Agency to enhance bilateral cooperation in combating corruption.
He lauded the anti-corruption initiatives led by Dr. Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center of Qatar (ROLACC) and UN Special Advocate on the Prevention of Corruption. Burkhanov highlighted Qatar’s influential role in international anti-corruption efforts, citing initiatives by ROLACC and the launch of master’s programs in international criminal justice by Lusail University in partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Discussing Uzbekistan’s anti-corruption reforms, Burkhanov noted significant steps in public policy, including the introduction of a special anti-corruption law and the establishment of an independent Anti-Corruption Agency. International reports measuring corruption perception indicated Uzbekistan’s improvement by 32 positions over the past five years on the Corruption Perception Index.
