An Uzbek high school student selected for the prestigious FLEX exchange program has returned home after her family alleged she was subjected to sexual harassment by her host father in the United States. The claims were made public by her father, Dr. Aziz Boltayev, in a detailed Facebook post. Uzbek officials have confirmed that they requested explanations from program representatives, while the U.S. side has not issued a public statement.
Dr. Boltayev’s daughter was one of nearly 60 finalists from Uzbekistan selected in 2025 for the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), had traveled to the United States to complete her final year of high school. The fully funded initiative, supported by the U.S. Department of State, enables students from participating countries to study at American high schools and live with volunteer host families for one academic year.
According to Boltayev’s account, his daughter was placed in a small town in Indiana with a childless couple, both music teachers, who had previously hosted exchange students. Initial video calls reportedly reassured the family prior to her departure.
“After graduating from medical school, I received a U.S. Department of State grant and spent time in the United States for professional development,” Boltayev wrote. “I returned to Uzbekistan with a deep sense of gratitude and a positive impression of American values. Naturally, when my eldest daughter won the FLEX grant in 2025, I was proud and supportive.”
He said the situation changed approximately a month after her arrival. According to his post, the host father allegedly began making inappropriate remarks and advances when his wife was not present.
“He told my daughter that it was ‘necessary to gain sexual experience’ before marriage,” Boltayev wrote. “To her credit, [his daughter] firmly resisted and immediately informed her assigned FLEX coordinator.”
According to Boltayev, the local coordinator relocated his daughter shortly after the complaint was filed. However, he criticized the way communication with the family in Uzbekistan was handled.
“The coordinator moved [his daughter] out of the house immediately, but in doing so, they completely bypassed us, her parents,” he wrote. Due to the time difference, he said he was informed the following day by the FLEX office in Tashkent.
Boltayev further alleged that during this period his daughter’s phone was switched off and her parents’ messages went unanswered. He claimed that the coordinator had instructed her to turn off her phone for “security reasons,” which he described as isolating a minor from her parents.
He also asserted that neither the temporary host family nor U.S.-based program representatives agreed to speak directly with him. According to Boltayev, his daughter was told that program officials were not obligated to provide information to her parents.
Seeking reassurance, Boltayev contacted a friend, a faculty member at the University of Michigan, who lives several hours from his daughter’s location, and asked him to check on her in person.
“Even then, FLEX representatives tried to block him, telling my daughter: ‘He needs our permission to see you, and for now, permission is denied,’” Boltayev wrote. “Only after my firm insistence did they meet.” His friend later confirmed that his daughter was physically safe but emotionally distressed.
Boltayev said he subsequently sent a formal letter to FLEX administrators in Washington, asking how his daughter had been placed with a host parent he characterized as predatory, and what measures would be taken. He described the response as formal and unsatisfactory, stating that officials expressed regret but maintained that program procedures had been followed.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Boltayev requested his daughter’s immediate return to Uzbekistan. She returned after approximately six weeks in the United States. Despite not completing the academic year, she was reportedly granted alumni status.
“She arrived home safe but psychologically traumatized,” he wrote. “Despite completing only 1.5 months of a 10-month program, she would be granted ‘Alumni’ status.”
The case has attracted attention from Uzbek authorities. Boltayev stated that he filed complaints with the Children’s Ombudsman and the Ministry of Preschool and School Education. According to him, the Ombudsman’s office indicated that the matter had been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He added that the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, together with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, summoned the director of the FLEX office in Tashkent for explanations.
Boltayev alleged that during the meeting, the American representative declined to answer questions verbally and requested that inquiries be submitted in writing. He wrote that more than two months have passed since formal requests were sent by the ministries without a response.
FLEX has operated in Uzbekistan for many years and is widely regarded as one of the most competitive secondary school exchange programs. Each year, finalists are selected through a multi-stage process that includes English-language testing, essays, and interviews.
As of publication, neither the U.S. Department of State nor FLEX program officials have issued a public statement addressing Boltayev’s allegations. The Uzbek ministries involved have not disclosed details of their correspondence.
In his Facebook post, Boltayev said he chose to speak publicly to alert other families.
“If a crisis occurs, you and your child may find yourselves alone against a system that prioritizes its own image over your child’s well-being,” he wrote.
