The Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan, Ozodbek Nazarbekov, has found himself at the center of a scandal following the emergence of a video on social media showing him performing songs at a wedding and accepting monetary gifts from guests. In this regard, the Anti-Corruption Agency (Antikor) has approached the government with a proposal to consider holding the official accountable, as reported by Gazeta.uz.
According to Azattyq Asia, the video was filmed at the wedding of one of the ministry's employees on October 25, 2025. It later became clear that Nazarbekov was performing at the wedding of the son of the honored artist Yahybek Mumunov. Representatives of the Ministry of Culture emphasized that the official did not plan his performance in advance, and refusing to perform could be perceived as disrespectful to the requests of citizens. The agency noted that receiving money for performances does not violate the law and is part of national traditions.
However, Antikor criticized this, pointing out violations of legislative norms. In particular, they reminded of Article 13 of the Law "On State Civil Service" and the Model Rules of Conduct for civil servants, which prohibit engaging in paid activities, except for scientific, pedagogical, and creative work. Civil servants are required to avoid actions that could undermine the authority of the civil service, both during and outside of working hours.
The agency has sent a request to the government for disciplinary action against the minister, including the possibility of a strict warning regarding the need to comply with the laws. Antikor also added that the actions of civil servants that contradict ethical standards will be under constant monitoring.
This is not the first time Ozodbek Nazarbekov has come under public scrutiny. In 2024, he participated in an advertisement for a clothing store, raising questions about the legality of his actions and the amount of possible remuneration. In 2025, the minister appeared again in an advertisement for a private university. In both cases, the Ministry of Culture stated that Nazarbekov's actions were not aimed at generating income.
