Medical Chief in Pakhtachi Forces Staff to Collect Votes, Shaming Dissenters
Head of Pakhtachi District Medical Association Coercing Employees to Collect Votes
The head of the Pakhtachi District Medical Association in Samarkand region, Ulugbek Suvonov, is facing allegations of coercing his employees to collect votes for a project in the “Open Budget” initiative. Reports indicate that Suvonov even insulted a doctor who refused to comply with his demands.
The project in question, currently in second place, promises to provide the medical association with 200 monoblocs and 50 printers if it maintains its position. However, the purpose behind acquiring such a large amount of equipment for the hospital remains unclear.
Employees of the Pakhtachi District Medical Association have spoken out about the pressure they are under to collect votes for the project. Suvonov reportedly insulted one employee who refused to participate, using derogatory language and comparing him to a dog.
Suvonov was quoted as saying, “Voting must not stop at any cost. You will go out and collect votes systematically. Only one or two people are participating… Who is this Nurimov? I don’t even know his exact surname, nor do I want to say his name.”
The practice of forcing employees to collect votes has raised concerns about coercion and forced labor. According to a presidential decree, such actions are classified as forced labor and are prohibited by the Labor Code.
In the past, similar cases of coercion in vote collection have been reported during previous cycles of the “Open Budget” project. Officials who engage in such practices may face fines or even criminal liability.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance has warned that projects with votes obtained through coercion will be disqualified from the voting phase. The blatant disregard for ethical and legal standards in the pursuit of votes is a troubling trend that must be addressed.
