Uzbekistan Justice - The Times Of Central Asia

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Crime

Germany Closes Money Laundering Case Against Uzbek-Russian Billionaire Usmanov

The Frankfurt Prosecutor’s Office has completed its money laundering investigation against Uzbek-Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov. The case was settled on October 11, 2024, when Usmanov agreed to pay 1.5 million euros to non-profit organizations and 2.5 million euros to the German treasury. When these payments are completed, the case will be completely closed. Prosecutors say the alleged actions in question occurred long ago and did not cause financial damage in Germany. This decision was made under section 153a of the German Criminal Procedure Code, which allows cases to be dropped if the crime is minor and prosecution isn’t in the public interest. Usmanov’s lawyers praised the result, calling it a step towards restoring his reputation. They noted that the investigation found no evidence to support money laundering charges. Usmanov has now decided not to file a counter lawsuit against prosecutors or demand damages. In 2022, a Frankfurt court deemed the searches of properties linked to Usmanov in Germany illegal, and all seized items were ordered to be returned. However, in 2023, the German Constitutional Court declined Usmanov’s complaint over the searches, stating that he had not exhausted all legal options before filing the complaint. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that the news from the Hamburg court about Usmanov as broadcast by the German TV channel ARD was found to be unreliable. ARD accused Usmanov of creating a system of bribing International Fencing Federation (FIE) judges. According to the report, the court found the information published by the ARD channel unreliable and banned its distribution as “inappropriate news based on suspicion.” If the court order is violated, the party found to be in violation can be fined up to 250,000 euros per episode or face imprisonment.

Tashkent Attack

Uzbekistan: Suspects Arrested in Attack, Media on Notice

Several suspects have been arrested in Uzbekistan following a shooting attack on a vehicle in a case that is being treated as attempted murder, according to the prosecutor general’s office. The investigation and public uncertainty about some of the key details of the assault has highlighted tension in Uzbekistan over the role of media and state control of the flow of information. The attack by two people early Saturday, a type of violence that is rare in Uzbekistan, prompted a flurry of reports by Uzbek media organizations and social media posts that a former high-profile figure in the government of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was traveling in the vehicle and was the target. The organizations did not identify their sources. Authorities did not directly confirm or deny the reports, but they warned that people who spread false information can be prosecuted because it can lead to panic and destabilize society. “The Prosecutor General's Office is conducting investigative actions concerning the criminal case related to the attempted murder in Qibray,” the office said, referring to an area in the Tashkent region where the attack occurred. “During the investigation and operational search activities, three additional individuals involved in committing this crime were identified and detained as suspects.” The arrests brings the total number of people in detention to four. The prosecutor general’s office has not commented on widespread Uzbek media reports that Komil Allamjonov, former chief of the presidential information department, had survived an attempt to kill him. But it has said in a separate statement that “unverified and baseless information” about the case “has been widely circulated on social media, lacking reliance on credible official sources.” The statement continued: “The law clearly defines both rights and responsibilities in the information sector—bloggers, group admins, and social media channel operators with large audiences should particularly be aware of this. Many in the public may accept any information they disseminate as fact. Media representatives must also adhere to the applicable legal norms in the same way that state agencies are required to.” The office appealed to media outlets to “rely on and reference only official information” that the prosecutor general’s office provides about such investigations. The law in Uzbekistan says the spread of false information that leads to the denigration of “a person´s dignity” or threatens “public order or security” can lead to prison sentences; advocates of freedom of expression say such regulations are used to muzzle criticism of the government. A recent criminal case against a blogger who made comments deemed to be offensive shows how the state seeks to regulate speech. For now, questions remain about the weekend attack on the vehicle. Inadvertently or not, at least one Uzbek media outlet was still linking Allamjonov to the case, even though authorities have not publicly mentioned him. An online headline in UzDaily.com read: “Three more suspects in the attempted assassination of Komil Allamjonov detained.”

Crime

Prosecutor’s Office Urges Caution in Reporting on Alleged Attack on Allamjonov

According to Uzbek media, an assassination attempt was made on October 26 against Komil Allamjonov, the former head of the presidential information department. At about 1:40am near Allamjonov's home in Tashkent's Kibray district, two unknown people fired several shots at the car he was sitting in and fled the scene. No-one was hurt. The type of weapon used in the attack has not been determined. An attempted murder case has been opened, and a search is underway. However, in its statement, the General Prosecutor’s Office did not confirm that this was an assassination attempt against Allamjonov. The media reported the incident under headlines about "Allamjonov's assassination," prompting an official response from the General Prosecutor’s Office. They clarified that the information being circulated about the shooting lacks confirmation from reliable official sources. The prosecutor’s office stated that the investigation was ongoing and promised further updates.

Crime

Five Uzbeks and One Tajik Escape Russian Penal Colony

On the morning of October 26, news broke that six prisoners had escaped from a penal colony in Russia’s Lipetsk region. The escapees—five from Uzbekistan and one from Tajikistan—had been planning their escape for over six months. They stole tools seven months prior and used them to dig two tunnels. The Lipetsk prison is where the infamous Aleksey Sherstobitov is serving a 23-year sentence. Sherstobitov, known as 'Lyosha the Soldier', was a notorious hitman in the 1990s, working for the infamous Orekhovskaya crime group. Law enforcement has detained five of the six prisoners, who escaped through a dug tunnel. The prisoners, all convicted of rape and drug trafficking, had planned to reach the Kazakhstan border but only managed to travel a few dozen kilometers toward Tambov and Moscow. The search for the remaining escapee is ongoing. A criminal case has been opened for negligence against the colony officials who allowed the prisoners to escape. If found guilty they could face up to seven years in prison under Article 293 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Election

Uzbekistan President’s Party Wins Landmark Election Held Under New Voting System

On October 27, Uzbekistan held elections for deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Lower House of Parliament) and local councils. This marks the first time these elections were conducted using a mixed (majority-proportional) system and featured electronic voting. For over a month, parties actively promoted their election programs to the public, with televised debates and messages on public transport urging citizens to participate in the elections and shape the country’s future. As required by law, all campaign activities were halted one day before the election. The electoral platforms of the five parties registered in Uzbekistan saw The Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP) emphasize poverty reduction and promoting internal labor migration over the next five years. The party also campaigned on expanding public-private partnerships in water management, ecology, and energy to increase the private sector's share in the economy to 85%. Additionally, UzLiDeP pledged to improve education, healthcare, and social services, focusing on providing clean drinking water and sewage systems in schools. The party pledged to double the annual budget for healthcare to $6 billion, and advocated to enhance healthcare and social support for citizens over the age of 70. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) focused on accessibility and social support, including assistive technologies at public transportation points for people with disabilities. They proposed adopting a “Social Housing” law, requiring luxury housing developers to allocate funds for social housing. This would benefit vulnerable groups, such as the homeless, people with disabilities, and those coming through the orphanage system. The party’s environmental initiatives included the Water Code and creating “Health Parks” for seniors near apartment complexes. The Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) Party’s platform spanned various topics, including youth development, cultural enrichment, family support, economic growth, and tourism. One key pledge emphasized Uzbekistan’s international relations, focusing on friendly ties with neighboring countries, cooperation, and maintaining peace - this despite party leader, Alisher Qodirov's anti-Russian rhetoric, including recent comments that “it would be better for [Russia] to deal with their own affairs [which are] full of problems than to deal with our internal issues." Qodirov has been actively responding to international discussions about Uzbekistan, reinforcing the party’s commitment to advancing national interests and strengthening Uzbekistan’s presence on the world stage. The Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party ran on a platform of advocating for media freedom, proposing reforms to safeguard journalists’ rights and prevent interference. Adolat pledged to introduce a “Presumption of Property Rights” to protect ownership and put forward affordable energy and price stability initiatives. The Ecology Party’s motto, “We are responsible for the future!” set out to drive home its focus on environmental and social issues. The party promoted government, business, and civil society efforts to address environmental challenges, whilst seeking to improve environmental legislation and education, and transitioning Uzbekistan toward a green economy. [caption id="attachment_24929" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] @TCA[/caption] According to Uzbek legislation, the election would be deemed valid once 33% of voters participated, and by 1pm local time 47.62% of voters had cast their ballots. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and...

Tashkent Attack

Big Security Sweep After Attack in Tashkent Region; No Casualties

Authorities in Uzbekistan are searching for suspects who opened fire on a vehicle in the Tashkent region early Saturday, the prosecutor general’s office said. The office did not immediately confirm some Uzbek media reports that Komil Allamjonov, former chief of the presidential information department, may have been in the vehicle. There were no injuries in the attack, which occurred around 1:40 a.m. while a person identified only as “citizen S.S.” was driving a Range Rover in Qibray district, according to a statement of the prosecutor general’s office. It said “two unidentified individuals fired multiple shots at the vehicle from a firearm and then fled the scene.” The type of weapon used in the attack has not been determined, the statement said. An attempted murder case was opened and a search is underway. “Currently, a rapid investigation group consisting of qualified officers from relevant agencies has been formed, and investigative actions are ongoing,” the prosecutor general’s office said. Gazeta.uz, an Uzbek media outlet, said a large group of law enforcement officials converged on the area where the shooting occurred. It quoted an unidentified person as saying police were asking for video recordings from nearby surveillance cameras. Allamjonov had worked as head of the presidential press service and held other posts prior to becoming chief of the presidency’s Information Policy Department in August 2023. Saida Mirziyoyeva, daughter of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and a senior presidential aide, thanked Allamjonov when he left that job in September this year. Allamjonov said he would go into the private sector.