The police in Uzbekistan

[crumbs]

I've read in books and on various Internet sites that the police in Uzbekistan are very corrupt. Is this true? Do they cause problems for tourists?

I am from the UK and our police are okay. Should I expect the same when I am Tashkent?

[Gareeb]

I've read in books and on various Internet sites that the police in Uzbekistan are very corrupt. Is this true? Do they cause problems for tourists?

I am from the UK and our police are okay. Should I expect the same when I am Tashkent?
Do not worry we do not have shoot to kill policy in Uzbekistan.:)

[crumbs]

Do not worry we do not have shoot to kill policy in Uzbekistan.:)

Good point. The police do not carry guns in the UK. Only special Armed Response Units are armed and will employ a shoot-to-kill policy. Having said that, there has only been one unfortunate incident in which the shoot-to-kill policy was actually used when an innocent person was shot dead in July of this year.

The general police force in the UK is unarmed.

[Ulug'bek]

Do not worry we do not have shoot to kill policy in Uzbekistan.:)

We may not have shoot to kill policy, but we do have 'beat to kill' policy:D unfortunately!

As far as I know, our police is a little better with foreigners, or I should say: less bad to them!

However, don't worry much, as a foreigner, they will not use the above mentioned 'policy' with you definately!

There are many foreigners there in the capital- Tashkent and they don't face much problems!

So you are wellcome to our mother land- Uzbekistan, enjoy you stay there!

[crumbs]

Thanks for the reassurance. I was getting a bit worried! Just a few more weeks to go now...

[Пушкарева]

I hate those militsiya that serve the US embassy!! They venture too far. They just openely ask money from you even though you come according to the appointed time followign all the rules. What I hate most, is that they do not look at the age or social level of people to shake- they just try to snaffle as much as possible. I was soooo mad when a young man asked my mother money when I went inside!!! Just for nothing my innocent mom gave him the money she had! There were other people who came from provinces hoping to get visas, very modestly dressed and scared, so the police was shaking them too. They did same with my friend's parents! Next time when I go there and any of them tries to do the same, I'll report it to the consular when I am inside for the interview.

I wonder, what if people stop bribing them saying "why should i pay you for?! show me the laws and regulations were it is prescribed that I have to do that!" - would that somehow manage their appetites?

[Delf]

1. Always carry your passport with you.
2. Make sure you always have unexpired registration.
3. Rent a cellphone and always have British Embassy's number with you.

Delf.
P.S. don't take pictures in the subway - it's considered a sensitive object.

[spoon]

Thanks for the reassurance. I was getting a bit worried! Just a few more weeks to go now...

Keep in mind that police might act hostile to foreign people hanging around with prostitutes. Why are you going there, though?


Have a nice day. :)

[al-quds muslim]

salamu alaikum,

in the latest news of andijan, the terrible reactions of police and armed forces of the uzbek army, made aquestion mark on the police, if the police kill the original residents ,that isavery big problem in security, as the one who is responsible to make peace, him self the source of terrorism of the people , but ,may u please give me the truth about that uzbek big problem (andijan), as it has avery big disaster against humanity.

uzbek police , must give other countries better understanding of the safety,by saving people, not shooting them ,as police is the first responsible about safety.

and thank u very much

[Uzbekxonim]

I've read in books and on various Internet sites that the police in Uzbekistan are very corrupt. Is this true? Do they cause problems for tourists?

I am from the UK and our police are okay. Should I expect the same when I am Tashkent?

the truth is that our police IS corrupted. and as a foreigner you'll be 'charged' by higher rates comparing to locals and in a foriegn currency (USD, Euro).

i would reccomend you to have a local guide/friend who knows the system (the country itself) so that to avoid this kind of situations.

have a nice stay in Uzbekistan.

[infolife]

bitta hikoya ayteb beraymi:) police in Uzb haqida o'tgan yili yozda american o'rtoqlarim b/n taksida ketyatuvdik,taksini eski shahargacha 800sumga kelishdik,ha u taksichi jonivor biz shoshib tuganimizzi bilib qizil chiroqqa o'tib ketti. Shundey mashindan tushdiyu,qo'lida 500 sumlik b/n ikki qo'llab sorashdiyu yana qaytib o';tirdi mashinaga.Hammamiz angrayib qoldik,men endi 30 mincha ushalib qolamiz desam,Uzb police corruptionda bunaka tez yo'llar ishlab chiqarilganidan behabar qogan ekanman:(
Nu shi ikki qo'llab ''hormang kamandir'' deysizda qo'lizi orasidagi 500tani shu 1 minda uni qo'lini orasiga jaylab qoyasiz.Ish bitti tamam:lol: :lol: :lol:

[infolife]

I'm from Uzb and in the UK. Expect the opposite of the UK police :lol:
they try to rip money off you but nothing to worry if u're a tourist and foing for a few weeks only:)
In bazaars though,u've gotta be careful. They say 2ce as much of anything in uzbek bazaars if they find out u're a tourist. Buhoroni bozorlarida zo'r edida,vey-vey-vey,hamma yolg'onchi hotinla:lol: I've read in books and on various Internet sites that the police in Uzbekistan are very corrupt. Is this true? Do they cause problems for tourists?

I am from the UK and our police are okay. Should I expect the same when I am Tashkent?

[Gareeb]

Belive me UK police is far better than Uzbek Gestapo.They are very nasty,rude, dumb.However if you are foreigner they can not harm you.Just be mindfull thats it.:)

[Mona Lisa]

NO OFF TOPS PLEASE!!!

[Masud]

I hate those militsiya that serve the US embassy!! They venture too far. They just openely ask money from you even though you come according to the appointed time followign all the rules. What I hate most, is that they do not look at the age or social level of people to shake- they just try to snaffle as much as possible. I was soooo mad when a young man asked my mother money when I went inside!!! Just for nothing my innocent mom gave him the money she had! There were other people who came from provinces hoping to get visas, very modestly dressed and scared, so the police was shaking them too. They did same with my friend's parents! Next time when I go there and any of them tries to do the same, I'll report it to the consular when I am inside for the interview.

I wonder, what if people stop bribing them saying "why should i pay you for?! show me the laws and regulations were it is prescribed that I have to do that!" - would that somehow manage their appetites?

Yeah, good point there uzbechka_in_us. I personally have given 500 sums to one of those militsia's around US Embassy to let me in earlier. Therefore they have saved me some time to get my ticket earlier from THY office. As you see, in US Time is money in non-corrupt way, There it is obviously time=money in a corrupt way.

cheers,-
Happy thanksgiving
AT

[crumbs]

I'm from Uzb and in the UK. Expect the opposite of the UK police :lol:
they try to rip money off you but nothing to worry if u're a tourist and foing for a few weeks only:)
In bazaars though,u've gotta be careful. They say 2ce as much of anything in uzbek bazaars if they find out u're a tourist. Buhoroni bozorlarida zo'r edida,vey-vey-vey,hamma yolg'onchi hotinla:lol:

Doesn't this work against the country (Uzbekistan) as a whole? I am a Muslim living in the UK and wish to visit countries around the world (preferably Muslim countries) that are not the usual tourist destinations.

Surely, if the police in Uzbekistan give tourists a hard time, that will simply discourage tourism and ultimately hurt the economy of Uzbekistan?

[infolife]

Brother,none told you police in Uzb harm tourists. U might expect to have a hard time with the police if u'r going for a long-term. U're not gonna drive in Uzb are u? Or,u'r not goin to sell sth in the bazaar? :lol:
So,no problem. U' go and enjoy your time:) i'm sure u'll InshaAllah
ps:The police in Uzb doesn't care about the economy,it's just soo corrupt.
Doesn't this work against the country (Uzbekistan) as a whole? I am a Muslim living in the UK and wish to visit countries around the world (preferably Muslim countries) that are not the usual tourist destinations.

Surely, if the police in Uzbekistan give tourists a hard time, that will simply discourage tourism and ultimately hurt the economy of Uzbekistan?

[Ulug'bek]

The following advices given by Delf and Samimiy earlier, are very practical and useful, stick to them!
1. Always carry your passport with you.
2. Make sure you always have unexpired registration.
3. Rent a cellphone and always have British Embassy's number with you.

4. If you look Asian/Middle Eastern and have a beard, you may be in trouble
Although the 4th one you can't do much to avoid if you look like them.
5. Have an honest local guide, paying for whom (or you can find some one who just helps you for free) will be extremely beneficial, more than you can imagine! You may look for one in the mosques in Tashkent upon your arrival. Be careful in choosing one, as in other places, there are many Muslims there too, whose behaviours don't comply with Islam!
As to Uzbekistan's policy towards tourism, it just reflects how the whole system is functioning in irrational way, if you go there, you will see more surprizes!
Nevertheless, you will enjoy your stay and never forget the good memories of your visit if you communicate with ordinary Uzbek people and visit wonderful cities like Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Shahrisabz, Termiz and Qo'qon! Those places and many historically famous names attached to them, will remind you how in the past, people living in this part of the world contributed to the Islamic and the human civilization as a whole!
In deed, some of the users of the forum are currently there in Uzbekistan and they may help you too.
Doesn't this work against the country (Uzbekistan) as a whole? I am a Muslim living in the UK and wish to visit countries around the world (preferably Muslim countries) that are not the usual tourist destinations.
Surely, if the police in Uzbekistan give tourists a hard time, that will simply discourage tourism and ultimately hurt the economy of Uzbekistan?

[al-quds muslim]

salamu aliakum,

please, in the last times, i heared alot, also saw in the tv , about some human rights organisations saying about prisoning alot of muslims from some groups, also, some pictures were taken for some muslims killed in prisons hardly, whats going on in uzbekistan ??? , and after that some explosions, then, andijan.

i see that there is avery big problem there, what is going on ???

i listened the uzbek president (ISLAM KARIMOV) naming some party called by (HIZB-UT-TAHRIR) and another called by (IKRAMYA), and now aUK-tourist saying about your police , may u please say to us what is going in your country ???

and thank u very much

[Gareeb]

salamu aliakum,

please, in the last times, i heared alot, also saw in the tv , about some human rights organisations saying about prisoning alot of muslims from some groups, also, some pictures were taken for some muslims killed in prisons hardly, whats going on in uzbekistan ??? , and after that some explosions, then, andijan.

i see that there is avery big problem there, what is going on ???

i listened the uzbek president (ISLAM KARIMOV) naming some party called by (HIZB-UT-TAHRIR) and another called by (IKRAMYA), and now aUK-tourist saying about your police , may u please say to us what is going in your country ???

and thank u very much

You can find here more information about brutality of Uzbek police and security services.www.muslimuzbekistan.com/en (http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/en)/

[Temur]

I've read in books and on various Internet sites that the police in Uzbekistan are very corrupt. Is this true? Do they cause problems for tourists?

I am from the UK and our police are okay. Should I expect the same when I am Tashkent?

I dont know about uzbekistan but other some centreal asian countries are rather corrupt almost all police get tribute,and if u dont give, they get angry and dangerous so u may have problem.I have been in Kazakhstan 1 year and police stole almost 300 euro from me.That was disgusting

[melo]

Uzbek policeman bothered me the entire time I was in Uzbekistan. They liked to stop me every time I was travelling with my bags too- then they would sit there and look through all my things. They also have stops on every major road where I would have to go and register with the police again. If I didn't speak Uzbek I'm not sure what they would have done. When we were leaving in the taxi from Tashkent- the other passenger were very worried to have us in the car with them because they expected the police to stop us and ask us for more money. I have had trouble with the police in every central asian country I was in.

[Dilshodius]

Uzbek policeman bothered me the entire time I was in Uzbekistan. They liked to stop me every time I was travelling with my bags too- then they would sit there and look through all my things. They also have stops on every major road where I would have to go and register with the police again. If I didn't speak Uzbek I'm not sure what they would have done. When we were leaving in the taxi from Tashkent- the other passenger were very worried to have us in the car with them because they expected the police to stop us and ask us for more money. I have had trouble with the police in every central asian country I was in.

C'est La Vie

[melo]

C'est La Vie

it doesn't need to be- Uzbekistan is under threat from foreign tourists?

[crumbs]

These horror stories don't sound good. It's too late to cancel my holiday as i'm travelling on Monday but, to be honest, it's already put me off travelling to Uzbekistan and I haven't even got there yet!

Fortunately I know a couple of local people from Tashkent and they will be with me at all times whilst I am travelling around.

[gafur227]

The police are corrupt in Uzbekistan especially in tashkent because they want money they can cause problems for you like set you up.

This is all Islam Karimov's daughters fault