THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEVENTY (1970 - 1975). SHARAF RASHIDOV AND LEONID BREZHNEV
In 1973, Leonid Brezhnev visited Uzbekistan again and made a big speech to the republican party members and economists, in which he praised socialism, the party and the work of communists. But according to some from the government, the main purpose of his visit was to solve issues associated with party members. Bribery, corruption and abuse by party members were becoming increasingly known throughout the USSR – and Brezhnev wanted to fight this. In early 1974, staff changes began in the Communist Party of the UzSSR.
"I FOUGHT TOGETHER WITH SHARAF RASHIDOV AND OTHER COMRADES AGAINST NEGATIVE MANIFESTATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC. AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THEM. THIS WORRIED THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE. I REMEMBER ONE EVENING, SHARAF RASHIDOVICH INVITED ME TO TAKE A WALK IN HIS DACHA... HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT CASES OF CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY. AT THAT TIME, THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS INSTITUTED ONE CASE AFTER ANOTHER. THE MINISTER HAIDAR YAHYAEV SHOWED CONFISCATED GOLD, JEWELRY AND BUNDLES OF BANKNOTES ON TELEVISION.
"HOW CAN WE FIGHT CORRUPTION? WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?" SHARAF RASHIDOVICH ASKED ME.
"I THINK THAT YOU, SHARAF RASHIDOVICH, SHOULD SPEAK SHARPLY AND HARSHLY ABOUT THESE PHENOMENA IN YOUR REPORT AT THE UPCOMING PLENUM OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND WARN EVERYONE THAT THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE WILL MERCILESSLY PUNISH, REGARDLESS OF OFFICES, REGARDLESS OF RANK AND OLD MERITS.
HE THANKED ME FOR MY ADVICE. AND HE PROMISED TO DO IT. BUT HE NEVER DID," RECOLLECTED EDUARD NORDMAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE KGB AT THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE UZBEK SSR.
Sharaf Rashidov, since the mid-seventies, understood the seriousness of the proliferation of corruption throughout the USSR, but he understood that alone in his republic, he would not be able to deal with the problem on a union-wide scale.
