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Court Case

Kyrgyz Bank Wins Brussels Court Case Over Sanctions Accusations

Kyrgyzstan's Bakai Bank has announced victory in a Brussels court case against the non-governmental organization Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF), which had previously published materials calling for sanctions against the bank. The court said the allegations were not supported by sufficient evidence. According to the bank, it filed the lawsuit to protect its business reputation after the Open Dialogue Foundation published materials in 2023 calling for sanctions against the financial institution to be considered. The ODF publications alleged that the bank may have been involved in schemes to circumvent European Union anti-Russian sanctions. Bakai Bank denied these allegations and initiated legal proceedings in Brussels. According to the bank’s statement and reporting on the ruling, a Brussels court held that ODF had made serious allegations without sufficient evidence. As a result, the court ordered the organization to remove the relevant publications, publish the text of the court decision on the main page of its website, and reimburse legal costs. At the time of publication, the Open Dialogue Foundation had not publicly commented on the court's decision. Bakai Bank stated that the court's decision stands as confirmation of the allegations' groundlessness. "We welcome this decision, which confirms the lack of basis for the charges and protects the bank's business reputation. We consistently comply with international law and adhere to the principles of transparency in our operations," the bank's representatives said. Askat Alagozov, press secretary to the President of Kyrgyzstan, commented on the situation on social media. He noted that this is not the first time Kyrgyz banks have faced accusations of evading sanctions. Specifically, Keremet Bank has been sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom, while Capital Bank of Central Asia, also known as Kapital Bank, has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom. According to Alagozov, such measures are accusatory in nature, and no public evidence of violations has been presented. He also added that President Sadyr Japarov previously rejected such accusations and stated the country's readiness to conduct an independent international audit of the banking sector. Moreover, Capital Bank of Central Asia, one of the banks targeted by sanctions, is state-owned.

Crocus City Hall Attack

Second Attack in Moscow Was Planned Alongside Crocus City Hall Assault

Organizers of the deadly attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow had initially planned a second, simultaneous attack in the Russian capital but later abandoned the idea, according to materials from the ongoing investigation cited by TASS. A participant in the court proceedings told the agency that investigators had identified a coordinator operating from abroad, known by the alias Saifullo, who had prepared a group of recruited and trained attackers for two separate operations in Moscow. The second attack was intended to take place at the same time as the assault on Crocus City Hall, with two individuals assigned to carry it out and three others designated for the concert venue. However, shortly before the attack, the plan was revised. Instead of dividing their forces, the organizers decided to concentrate on a single target, reinforcing the group assigned to Crocus City Hall. The exact location and method of the planned second attack were not disclosed in the case materials, although investigators noted it was also intended to result in mass casualties. According to TASS, one week before the attack the coordinator informed the perpetrators that an additional individual, previously assigned to the second operation, would join the group targeting Crocus City Hall. Several suspects linked to the case have been placed on Russia’s list of designated terrorists, while the alleged coordinator remains at large abroad. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a man sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the attack died in pretrial detention, in what Russian authorities described as suicide. Investigations into the organization and execution of the Crocus City Hall attack are ongoing.

Migrant Workers

Uzbekistan Officials Intervene Over Wage Delays for Migrant Workers in Russia

Uzbek diplomats and migration officials have intervened to resolve wage disputes affecting dozens of Uzbek citizens working in Russia’s Tyumen region, according to a report by Dunyo Information Agency. Representatives of Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in Yekaterinburg, together with officials from the Migration Agency, traveled to the city of Tobolsk, where they met with more than 100 Uzbek citizens working temporarily for local companies. The delegation organized an on-site reception, providing legal and consular assistance and clarifying issues related to passport processing and compliance with migration laws. During the meetings, officials also warned workers about the risks of engaging with illegal or extremist groups and reminded them that joining private military companies could lead to criminal liability. A key issue raised during the visit was delayed wage payments. Authorities found that a subcontractor had failed to pay salaries for February and March to 26 Uzbek workers. Following negotiations involving the main contractor and the employer, the companies acknowledged the debt and agreed to settle it. As a result, approximately 2 million rubles (about $24,945) in wages have been accrued and are expected to be transferred to the workers’ bank accounts in the coming days. In addition, the employers committed to repaying outstanding wages to around 80 other Uzbek citizens who had previously left the company without receiving full payment. Officials also inspected living and working conditions and held discussions with employers aimed at preventing similar cases in the future. According to Dunyo, Uzbekistan’s government considers the protection of its citizens abroad and ensuring fair pay for their work a priority. Such outreach visits and rapid interventions are seen as an important tool for strengthening legal protections for Uzbek migrant workers in Russia and addressing their concerns directly on the ground. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Russia expressed its readiness to facilitate the transfer of more than 3,000 Uzbek prisoners to serve their sentences in Uzbekistan, although the process remains constrained by legal limitations.

Death in Custody

Convicted Crocus City Hall attack Defendant Found Dead in Moscow Detention Center

A man sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the deadly attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow has died in pretrial detention. Russian authorities said the death is being treated as a suicide. The development was reported by RBC, citing the Federal Penitentiary Service. In a statement reported by RBC, officials said the incident occurred at the Matrosskaya Tishina detention center in Moscow. Medical staff attempted resuscitation, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Authorities added that an internal review has been launched, with results expected in due course. Due to personal data protection laws, officials initially withheld the identity of the deceased. However, RBC later reported, citing a lawyer representing victims, that the individual was Yakubjoni Davlatkhon Yusufzoda, a citizen of Tajikistan who had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment earlier in March. The case is linked to the high-profile Crocus City Hall attack in March 2024, which resulted in multiple casualties and drew widespread international attention. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Yusufzoda was accused of assisting those involved in the attack, including facilitating financial transfers before and after the incident. He was detained in late March 2024 during a law enforcement operation and later charged under terrorism-related provisions of the Russian Criminal Code. RBC also reported that another defendant in the same case, Jabrail Aushev, had previously attempted self-harm but was prevented by detention center staff. Authorities said reports of a new incident involving Aushev on the same day were inaccurate. Earlier in March, the Western District Military Court sentenced several individuals identified as direct perpetrators of the attack to life imprisonment, along with others described by investigators as accomplices. Both the defense and victims’ representatives have since appealed the verdict, arguing that the sentences were, respectively, too severe and too lenient.

Power Struggle

Kyrgyzstan Faces Elite Realignment as Tashiyev Network Comes Under Pressure

In the last week, political tensions in Kyrgyzstan have risen following the arrest of Shairbek Tashiyev, the brother of Kamchybek Tashiyev, the former head of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB). Shairbek, a former member of the Jogorku Kenesh, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, was detained on April 1 following questioning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The case unfolds against the backdrop of a widening rift between President Sadyr Japarov and his once long-time ally Tashiyev, who played a key role in helping Japarov consolidate power following the political upheaval of October 2020. After coming to power, President Japarov and Tashiyev built one of the most consolidated political tandems in Kyrgyzstan’s post-Soviet history, concentrating authority across the presidency, parliament, and security structures. In February, Tashiyev was removed from his position, followed by what observers described as a broader sidelining of his allies within security structures and parliament. This fueled speculation about a breakdown in the political partnership that had underpinned relative stability in recent years. Shairbek Tashiyev is now a central suspect in a corruption investigation involving the state-owned company Kyrgyzneftegaz. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the criminal case on March 17, following materials released by the State Tax Service alleging financial misconduct within the company. According to investigators, former executives of Kyrgyzneftegaz and affiliated private entities were detained shortly after the case was opened. A criminal case was initiated under Article 336 of the Criminal Code, alleging “Corruption.” Among those detained was former National Bank head Melis Turgunbayev, whose pretrial detention was later changed to house arrest by a court in Bishkek. It later emerged that another of those initially detained was Baigazy Matisakov, identified as a nephew of Kamchybek Tashiyev. He was subsequently released after reportedly reaching an agreement with investigators. On April 2, a court ordered Shairbek Tashiyev to remain in custody until May 16, 2026. His lawyer stated that he denies the charges and considers them unfounded. The investigation, led by the State Tax Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, covers Kyrgyzneftegaz’s operations from 2021 to 2025. Authorities allege total financial violations amounting to 4.1 billion soms (approximately $46.5 million), including lost profits and unpaid taxes. Investigators have outlined three main alleged schemes that they are continuing to investigate. The first involved intermediary companies allegedly linked to individuals close to the Tashiyev family, which resold oil to the Kyrgyz Petroleum Company refinery. The second involved the write-off of raw materials, with around 20,000 tons of oil reportedly classified as “technological losses” beyond established norms. The third concerned preferential sales, with diesel and fuel oil allegedly sold at below-market prices to favored companies. The case is being watched closely in Kyrgyzstan, where elite reshuffles have historically signaled broader political realignments rather than isolated legal actions. It remains unclear whether the investigation will expand further and implicate additional individuals connected to Tashiyev or what the potential impact could be on the broader political environment within the country.

Cotton Industry

Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector: Focus Shifts to Farmers as Dialogue Continues

The Times of Central Asia previously published an interview with Komoliddin Ikromov, head of the Agribusiness Association, addressing recent land disputes, legal processes, and ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector. In a separate conversation, Umida Niyazova, founder of the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, has offered an additional perspective, focusing on the conditions faced by cotton and wheat farmers. Her remarks come in the context of a recent joint report by the Uzbek Forum and Human Rights Watch examining structural issues in the agricultural system. While the report has drawn international attention, Niyazova emphasized that its primary focus differs from earlier discussions centered on cotton pickers. Focus on farmers rather than pickers Niyazova said public debate in recent years has largely focused on forced labor among cotton pickers, particularly prior to reforms introduced after 2019. However, she noted that the new report shifts attention to another group. “Our recent report on the cotton sector in Uzbekistan does not focus on cotton pickers, but rather on cotton and wheat producers, farmers,” she told The Times of Central Asia. “This is a different segment of workers whose problems have, for decades, remained overshadowed by the issue of forced labor of cotton pickers... The central finding of our report is that the working conditions of farmers producing cotton and wheat in Uzbekistan place them at risk of forced labor.” Basis for assessing risk Niyazova explained that this conclusion is based on eleven indicators developed by the International Labour Organization, “which define warning signs that individuals may be at risk.” However, the report does not conclude that specific cases constitute forced labor. “We did not have sufficient information to determine that any particular farmer is working under forced labor conditions,” she told TCA. “However, we were able to conclude that cotton and wheat farmers in general are at risk due to the conditions in which they work.” These indicators include factors such as vulnerability, intimidation, threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working conditions. At the same time, she acknowledged that Uzbekistan has made progress in addressing earlier concerns related to cotton picking. Changes in cotton picking practices Niyazova said the situation for cotton pickers has changed significantly in recent years. “These are seasonal workers, primarily rural residents, who are recruited by farmers or mahallas (neighborhoods) to harvest cotton over a two-month period,” she said. “Since the 2020 harvest, payment rates for manual cotton picking have increased. This has been an important, though not the only, factor in attracting voluntary laborers.” According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a recommended price of 2,000 UZS ($0.16) per kilogram of hand-picked cotton was set for 2025. During the harvest, prices may also be determined through agreements between cluster operators, farms, and pickers. Niyazova said additional reforms have contributed to changes in the sector, including the introduction of private clusters, increased mechanization, and government oversight. “Mechanization has increased year by year, reducing the need for manual labor,” she said, adding that by 2025, more than 50% of the harvest...