However, the monolithic Soviet system provided few incentives for personal advancement and economic prosperity, instead creating a climate where nepotism and corruption soon became entrenched. Every year students have to pay their teachers a bribe to pass their exams or to graduate from university. Uzbeks have to pay a bribe to get a job, pay a bribe to the doctor to operate on a child, pay a bribe to the electricity man to lower the bill, to the policeman for a traffic offense and so on. But Uzbeks pay bribes even for talent competitions, which should be the very essence of meritocracy. To western eyes at least, this is particularly reprehensible and makes such competitions complete charades.
Endemic corruption cripples society with devastating consequences.
As for human rights, the very concept presupposes that those without the right connections have any value at all. One of the most potent legacies of the Soviet era was the importance of veneer. Things must look good. It was never clear exactly who the charade was for, only that it must be played, and played by everyone. Today the charade continues, and people continue to play even if they do not believe.