Authorities Crack Down on Projects Using Forced Votes in ‘Open Budget’ Initiative
The Ministry of Economy and Finance Takes Action Against Forced Voting in Kuva District
The Ministry of Economy and Finance has taken a stand against forced voting in Kuva district’s School No. 37 by submitting a proposal to exclude projects from the ‘Open Budget’ initiative. The ministry is urging individuals who encounter forced vote collection to report it to the Ministry of Employment’s hotline at (71) 200-06-00.
Instances of coerced voting were identified at School No. 37 in Kuva district, Fergana region, where school staff were reportedly pressured into participating in the vote. Following an investigation by relevant authorities, it was confirmed that forced voting had indeed taken place.
As a result, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has officially requested the district council of people’s deputies to exclude these projects from the voting stage. The ministry emphasized the importance of reporting any cases of forced vote collection to the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment’s hotline.
It is important to note that compelling individuals to vote within the ‘Open Budget’ process is considered forced labor, a violation of rights. In a related incident, Minister of Preschool and School Education Hilola Umarova exposed a school principal in Kuva district who attempted to deduct money from teachers’ salaries in order to collect votes for the ‘Open Budget’ program. As a result, the principal’s employment contract was terminated.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance is taking steps to ensure that the ‘Open Budget’ initiative is carried out in a fair and transparent manner, free from any form of coercion or manipulation..reporting any instances of forced voting is essential to upholding the integrity of the democratic process.
