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Uzbek cotton scandal
1970s–1989 corruption scandal in Uzbekistan, Soviet Union / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Uzbek cotton scandal, also known simply as the cotton scandal (Russian: хлопковое дело, Uzbek: paxta ishi) or the Uzbek scandal (Russian: Узбекское дело, Uzbek: oʻzbek ishi), was a widespread corruption scandal in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic beginning during the later years of the rule of Leonid Brezhnev and continuing until 1989.
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The criminal trials regarding involvement in the cotton scandal were widely-publicised, in an effort to increase public faith in the government following the increased socio-economic imbalances caused by the Era of Stagnation. A total of 800 criminal cases were initiated, and more than 4,000 individuals were found guilty of various charges relating to the scandal.