Authorities intensify environmental oversight as damage nears 1 trillion UZS in just 2.5 years

According to the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, from 2023 through the first five months of 2025, the Inspectorate, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, conducted more than 3,500 raids.

As a result, 110,941 violations of environmental legislation were detected. Offenders were fined a total of 115 billion UZS in administrative penalties.

Authorities also filed lawsuits seeking 32 billion UZS in compensation for environmental damage, 66 billion UZS of which have already been recovered.

Environmental inspections were carried out at 5,439 enterprises, during which 3,433 violations were identified. Administrative protocols were drawn up against 1,738 officials, and the case files were submitted to the courts.

During this period, the Ministry of Ecology issued 4,669 mandatory environmental orders requiring the elimination of violations, assessed 322.3 billion UZS in damages to the environment, and additionally imposed 60.3 billion UZS in compensation payments for environmental pollution.

The operations of 245 enterprises were suspended until the identified violations were rectified.

Over the past two and a half years, materials related to 429 criminal cases totaling 982 billion UZS were submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office — 171 cases in 2023, 172 in 2024, and 86 during the first quarter of 2025. Criminal charges were brought in 275 of these cases.