Picture surfaced on social networks in which the chief of Uchkuprik district financial department of Fergana province and the mayor’s assistant are playing cards for money. In the photograph, a group of people were pictured playing cards and placing bets in a premises which appears to be an office.
The photo is being widely discussed on the internet. In particular, one of the users expressed concern that bets could be placed from the local budget. “I hope the bets were not from the local budget,” says the comment.
The Uchkuprik district mayor’s office responded to the situation.
“This situation is being investigated in accordance with the established procedure together with the Uchkuprik district mayor's office and provincial departments of government bodies. Additional information will be provided based on its findings,” the office said in a commentary.
Uzbek officials are renowned for their taste for hard parties, card games, illegal fight nights and orgies. This rarely becomes public, because they are covered by law enforcement agencies, who never expose them due to their being ones of their own. This might become public if one of participants decides to expose someone, which happens rarely.
