Under a law signed by the President Mirziyoyev on June 22, legal protections for corruption whistleblowers have been significantly strengthened.
According to the new legislation, if an employee provides a well-founded report regarding a corruption-related crime within their government agency, the employer is strictly prohibited from taking disciplinary action* against them for a period of two years without prior notification to the Anti-Corruption Agency.
*Note: Under the Labor Code, disciplinary action may include formal reprimands, financial penalties, termination of employment, or other disciplinary measures.
Furthermore, the state guarantees incentives for individuals who blow the whistle on corrupt acts. These rewards may be issued as one-time cash bonuses, official letters of appreciation, commemorative gifts, or other forms of recognition permitted by law.
These administrative safeguards have been formally enshrined in the Law "On Countering Corruption." The legislative amendments are set to officially take effect on July 23, 2026.
Previously existing guarantees
For context, the following legal provisions concerning corruption whistleblowers were already enshrined in this law prior to the latest amendments:
Individuals who report information regarding corruption-related offenses, along with their close relatives, are placed under state protection.
The identity and personal data of corruption whistleblowers constitute an official state secret. This information can only be disclosed in cases explicitly prescribed by law, and strictly requires the written consent of the informant as well as the head of the respective anti-corruption agency.
If there are sufficient grounds confirming a credible threat to the life or health of a whistleblower or their close relatives, or if they face violence, property destruction, or vandalism, anti-corruption authorities are legally mandated to take all necessary protective measures. These actions must be executed in accordance with the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings Law.
Any infringement upon the rights and legitimate interests of whistleblowers or their close relatives due to their reporting, as well as any violation of their labor rights by an employer, is strictly prohibited and carries legal liability under the law.
The incentivization and rewarding of individuals who report corruption-related offenses are carried out in accordance with the procedures established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
These protective measures do not apply to individuals who knowingly provide false information regarding corruption offenses. Such individuals will be held legally accountable in accordance with the law.
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