Uzbekistan Justice - The Times Of Central Asia

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Animal Welfare

Uzbekistan Drafts New Law to Strengthen Animal Protection

Lawmakers in Uzbekistan are preparing a draft law aimed at strengthening protections for animals and addressing animal cruelty more systematically, according to the Ecological Party’s faction in the Legislative Chamber. Despite a reported decline in incidents in recent years, cases of animal cruelty continue to be reported, often without a clear motive and sometimes for entertainment, the party said. Deputies argue that existing measures, although recently tightened, remain insufficient to fully address the problem. On March 25, Uzbekistan adopted amendments increasing penalties for animal cruelty. Under the revised rules, offenders may face fines ranging from 15 to 25 times the base calculation amount (approximately $34) or up to 15 days of administrative detention. However, lawmakers say these measures should be complemented by a broader legal framework. The new draft law, titled “On the Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment,” is being developed as a comprehensive response. According to the party, it draws on international experience and is designed not only to punish violations but also to prevent them. Among its key provisions is a clearer legal definition of acts constituting animal cruelty, along with stricter prohibitions. The draft also proposes revising criminal liability, including increasing fines to up to 200 times the base calculation amount (approximately $6,775) or introducing prison sentences of up to one year. In addition, the legislation would require offenders to fully cover veterinary treatment costs for injured animals, even if those costs exceed the animal’s market value. It also outlines responsibilities for pet owners, including proper care and a ban on abandoning animals. The draft includes provisions to support the development of pet-friendly public spaces and proposes legal recognition of guide dogs and emotional support animals in public transport. It also emphasizes education and public awareness through schools and media to encourage more humane treatment of animals.

Prisoner Transfer

Russia Ready to Transfer Over 3,000 Uzbek Prisoners

Russia is prepared to facilitate the transfer of more than 3,000 Uzbek citizens convicted on its territory to serve their sentences in Uzbekistan, but the process remains stalled due to legal obstacles, Kommersant reported, citing Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova. Speaking at a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Human Rights Commission, Moskalkova said Russia is willing to support the transfer mechanism. However, she noted that Uzbekistan cannot currently accept the prisoners because it has not ratified the 1998 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. “Russia is ready to assist, but the country of citizenship cannot accept them due to the lack of ratification of the convention,” she said, according to RIA Novosti. The agreement allows individuals convicted in one participating country to serve their sentences in their home country. It is intended to support rehabilitation and improve humanitarian conditions by allowing individuals to remain closer to their families and social environment. Russia ratified the convention in 1998, and it is also in force in several countries in the region, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia. For Uzbek nationals, however, Uzbekistan’s absence from the treaty has prevented similar transfers. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in 2025, 191 Uzbek citizens applied for asylum in Russia, highlighting shifting migration patterns and increasing pressure on legal and humanitarian systems in the region.

Justice

Mirziyoyev: Violence Against Women and Children Will Not Be Tolerated in Uzbekistan

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced tougher measures against violence toward women and children, and unveiled new economic and education programs aimed at expanding opportunities for women across Uzbekistan. Speaking on March 6 at a ceremony in Tashkent marking International Women’s Day, the president referred to a decree he signed on March 3 that strengthens the country’s response to domestic violence. According to remarks reported by Uzbek media and the presidential press service, the decree introduces a stricter system for addressing harassment and violence against women and minors. Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan has adopted the creation of an uncompromising environment against violence as a strategic goal. “Anyone who raises a hand against women or children will either leave Uzbekistan or be forced to live according to the law,” he said during the event held at the Kuksaroy residence. Mirziyoyev also stated that the decree includes tougher penalties for certain crimes against minors. According to his remarks, in some cases crimes involving pedophilia will now carry life imprisonment. He noted that legal experts had raised objections during discussions but said he insisted on including the punishment in the decree. In addition to legal measures, Mirziyoyev outlined several initiatives focused on education, employment, and rehabilitation programs for women. According to statements made during the event, women serving sentences in correctional facilities will be given the opportunity to apply to universities and study remotely. Officials said many female inmates currently have only secondary education and lack professional skills, while some have expressed interest in pursuing higher education. To address this, the government plans to launch a program called “New Life,” which will provide vocational training for women in prisons. Participants will study for three to six months in professional training programs and receive certificates. Those who wish to enter universities will be able to take entrance exams inside correctional institutions. Women admitted to universities on a contract basis will be eligible for interest-free loans, repayable after completing their sentences and securing employment. The government also plans to expand economic support for women nationwide. According to Mirziyoyev's speech, 166,000 women will receive training in modern professions and entrepreneurship this year, while another 100,000 will study information technology skills. A separate initiative called “Daromadli Ayol” (“Profitable Woman”) will support home-based businesses. With the help of experienced entrepreneurs, the program aims to create employment for 50,000 women in areas such as handicrafts, poultry farming, beekeeping, and household agriculture. Officials also said that under the “Hamroh” program, around 1 trillion UZS (about $82,440,000) will be allocated to finance 3,000 business projects led by women. Overall, the government aims to help 1.5 million women generate income this year, including 400,000 who are expected to enter business activities. More than 25 trillion UZS (about $2,060,950,000) in financial resources will be directed toward these initiatives.

FLEX Exchange Program

Uzbek FLEX Finalist Returns Home After Alleged Harassment by Host Father in Indiana

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...

India

Delhi Police Arrest Man After Large Theft Targeting Uzbek Visitor

Police in New Delhi have arrested a man accused of using his two minor children to carry out thefts near the busy Jama Masjid market, following an investigation into the theft of over $6,500 from a citizen of Uzbekistan visiting India for his daughter’s medical treatment, The Times of India reported. According to police, the case began after the Uzbek national filed a complaint at the Jama Masjid police station on January 15. The victim told authorities he had traveled to India for his youngest daughter’s cancer surgery in Gurgaon and was carrying foreign currency in a sling bag while sightseeing and shopping with his family in the historic market area. He later discovered that the cash and his debit card had been stolen. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Anant Mittal said investigators relied on technical surveillance, CCTV footage from cameras installed around the market, and field intelligence to identify two siblings, aged 15 and 13, from the town of New Seelampur as suspects. “Through sustained technical surveillance and analysis of CCTV footage, the movements of the juveniles were tracked and verified, revealing their involvement,” Mittal said. Police conducted raids in New Seelampur and detained the children along with their father. During questioning, the man allegedly admitted that he had previously used his children to commit thefts in order to avoid direct suspicion, later keeping the stolen items himself. Authorities said the suspect had previously been linked to a robbery case registered at the Pandav Nagar police station. The minors were also reportedly connected to earlier incidents, including motor vehicle theft cases investigated by Jama Masjid police. During the operation, officers recovered $6,500 in cash, the victim’s debit card, 4,700 Indian rupees (about $57), and a mobile phone worth 48,000 rupees (approximately $580), which police believe was purchased with stolen funds. The investigation is ongoing.

U.S. Sanctions

U.S. Sanctions Uzbek Citizen Over Alleged Cybercrime Links

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on an Uzbek citizen over alleged involvement in cybercrime activities linked to Russian actors, according to an official press release published on the agency’s website. OFAC reported that Azizjon Mamashoyev, a citizen of Uzbekistan born in 1987, was added to the sanctions list under regulations related to Russia-linked activities. U.S. authorities allege that he participated in cyber operations and maintained connections with individuals suspected of conducting malicious cyber activities. The announcement included identifying details, listing Mamashoyev’s date of birth as February 20, 1987, and confirming his Uzbek nationality. The designation was issued under the Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions Regulations and forms part of measures targeting cyber-enabled threats. According to OFAC, Mamashoyev is linked to Sergey Zelenyuk, who has also been associated with cybercrime investigations. The sanctions were introduced pursuant to authorities under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and a cyber-related sanctions program identified as CYBER4. The U.S. Treasury also designated Advance Security Solutions, a company reportedly connected to Mamashoyev. The firm, described as operating in computer programming, is registered in Dubai’s Jumeirah Living Marina Gate area and also lists operations in Tashkent. U.S. officials stated that the company was established in 2025 and may have engaged in activities posing secondary sanctions risks. Under OFAC sanctions, designated individuals and entities are generally subject to asset freezes within U.S. jurisdiction, and U.S. persons are typically prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.