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.
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.