Arrest - The Times Of Central Asia

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TikToker Arrest

TikToker Arrested for Insulting Uzbek Citizens Online

Valeriy Yugay, a TikToker from Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region known online as Abdullah, has been arrested after making a series of offensive videos targeting Uzbek citizens while abroad. According to Bobur Tulaganov, spokesperson for the Tashkent Regional Department of Internal Affairs, Yugay recorded and published the videos during his stay in South Korea in October and November 2024. In the videos, he allegedly insulted Uzbeks, made statements that could incite ethnic hatred, and expressed disrespect for national values and religious beliefs. Yugay was returned to Uzbekistan on March 25, arriving on a flight from Abu Dhabi to Samarkand, where he was immediately detained by law enforcement authorities. A criminal case has been opened against him under Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, and a court has ordered his pre-trial detention while the investigation proceeds. The 26-year-old reportedly made several inflammatory statements, including denying the legitimacy of the Uzbek state, expressing regret about being born there, and vowing never to return. In one particularly controversial video, he insulted Uzbek women and claimed he would harm his own mother in exchange for social media likes and followers. The Internal Affairs Department stated that his remarks sparked widespread public outrage across Uzbekistan. Following his arrest, Yugay admitted guilt and issued a public apology. “I, Valeriy Yugay, insulted our people on social media. I did it for attention and recognition. But now I realize my mistake and deeply regret it. I sincerely apologize to everyone,” he said.

Baikonur

Three Spaniards, One Australian Detained at Baikonur Cosmodrome

The Baikonur Cosmodrome in a remote part of Kazakhstan has long held allure for people – trespassers included - who are intrigued by its storied role as a facility that pioneered early space exploration and remains a vital part of Russia’s space program. Three Spanish citizens and one Australian were detained while trying to get into a restricted area housing old space infrastructure at Baikonur on Tuesday night, reported RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency. It cited an unidentified source. Another Russian media organization, Tass, later reported that the Spaniards had been released and that the Spanish embassy in Astana was working to help them. Tass did not report on the status of the Australian. The attempted break-in at the Russian-run base occurred in the area of the disused assembly and refueling complex of the Buran spacecraft, a space shuttle that was developed in the 1970s and 1980s by the Soviet Union, whose leaders were concerned that the U.S. space shuttle program posed a possible military threat. The Buran flew once in 1988, but the program was abandoned because of high costs and a lack of purpose. In 2022, British YouTuber Benjamin Rich documented his trip to Baikonur, where he was also detained by Russian authorities. The journey involved walking with a companion for many hours across the desert, shielding themselves from the sun with umbrellas. They were able to enter the decrepit Buran hangar and see the space shuttle but got caught by guards as they were leaving the facility. Rich said he and his companion paid a fine of $50 each and were released. Last year, RIA Novosti reported that two French citizens tried to reach Baikonur by the same method, but one died of dehydration during the arduous journey on foot. The first man to go into space, Yuri Gagarin, and the first woman, Valentina Tereshkova, took off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, which is run by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, under an agreement with the Kazakh government. Russia continues to launch spacecraft from there, sometimes in joint missions with NASA. The first launch from Baikonur in 2025 occurred on Feb. 28, when a Soyuz rocket hoisted a Russian spacecraft carrying three tons of food, fuel and other supplies that were delivered to the International Space Station.

Human Trafficking

Ukrainian Fugitive Arrested in Poland for Organ Trafficking in Central Asia

A 35-year-old Ukrainian woman has been arrested in Przemyśl, Poland, based on an Interpol Red Notice, according to the country’s prosecutor’s office. She has been on the run since November 9, 2020, after being sentenced to 12 years in prison by a court in Kazakhstan for her role in an organized crime group involved in human organ trafficking. On March 6, 2025, border guards at the railway crossing in Przemyśl detained Ksenia P. (whose name is protected under Polish privacy laws) during a routine inspection. Authorities confirmed that she had been convicted in Kazakhstan for her involvement in an international criminal group that operated between 2017 and 2019. The group illegally harvested human tissues and organs for sale on the black market. Ksenia P. was found guilty of obtaining human kidneys from 56 victims across several countries, including Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Thailand. The illegal trade was conducted for financial gain, with the criminal network relying on it as a steady source of income. Following her arrest, the District Prosecutor’s Office in Przemyśl questioned Ksenia P. and, on March 7, 2025, requested the District Court to impose a temporary seven-day detention. This measure is intended to facilitate her extradition to Kazakhstan, where she is expected to serve her sentence.

Terrorism

Tajik National Arrested in U.S. for Supporting ISIS-K, Faces 45 Years in Prison

A Tajik national has been arrested in the United States on charges of supporting the terrorist group ISIS-Khorasan. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 33-year-old Manuchehr Mansuri was detained in Brooklyn, New York, on suspicion of terrorist ties, illegal weapons possession, and immigration fraud. Investigation Findings Authorities discovered that Mansuri entered the U.S. in 2016 on a tourist visa but overstayed after it expired. To legalize his status, he allegedly entered into a sham marriage with a U.S. citizen. During his time in the U.S., he worked as a truck driver and traveled frequently across the country. Between December 2021 and April 2023, Mansuri transferred approximately $70,000 to individuals affiliated with ISIS-Khorasan in Turkey and Syria. Among the recipients was a Tajik national arrested in January 2024 by Turkish authorities for participating in an attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul. The terrorist group Wilayat Khorasan later claimed responsibility for the attack. Investigators also found extremist materials in Mansuri’s possession, including content praising convicted terrorist Sayfullo Saipov, who carried out the 2017 New York truck attack. He also had sermons by former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and material from Gulmurod Halimov, the former head of the Tajik OMON (Special Purpose Police Unit), who joined ISIS in 2015. Most of these materials were in Russian and Tajik. Authorities further determined that Mansuri trained with firearms, despite being legally barred from possessing them. He allegedly sent videos of his training to supporters, declaring his willingness to aid ISIS. Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentence If convicted, Mansuri faces up to 45 years in prison. A team of prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York, supported by counterterrorism experts, is handling the case. A judge will determine his sentence based on federal guidelines and other legal factors. Related Arrests of Tajik Nationals in U.S. Earlier, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested eight Tajik nationals in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles as part of an FBI counterterrorism investigation. The individuals were under surveillance due to suspected links to ISIS. According to sources, two of them crossed the U.S. southern border in 2023, with one using the CBP One mobile app to apply for asylum. While they have not been formally charged with terrorism, they were arrested for immigration violations and remain in ICE custody, awaiting possible deportation. The investigation into their potential ties to terrorist activity is ongoing, and additional charges may follow.

Justice

Tajikistan Sentences Defendants in Alleged Coup Attempt Case

Tajikistan's Supreme Court handed down sentences on February 5 in a high-profile coup attempt case, convicting former high-ranking officials, politicians, and journalists. Among those sentenced are a former foreign minister, a former chairman of the Supreme Soviet, and retired security officials. Sentences and Key Defendants Former Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi received a 27-year prison sentence. Shokirjon Khakimov, the first deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, and Ahmadshokh Komilzoda, former deputy chairman of the Democratic Party, were each sentenced to 18 years. Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, the niece of Khakimov, was sentenced to eight years on charges of treason. However, details of the charges against her remain undisclosed, as the case is classified. The trial was conducted behind closed doors at a pre-trial detention center. Lack of Transparency and Denials by Defendants Authorities have not disclosed details of the trial, citing national security concerns. Relatives of the defendants were barred from attending, and defense lawyers have refrained from commenting due to non-disclosure agreements. According to sources, many of the convicted individuals denied the charges during their final statements. In particular, Akbarsho Iskandarov and Ahmadshokh Komilzoda argued that the verdicts were issued without sufficient evidence. The trial began on November 14, 2024, following a wave of arrests that started in mid-2024 with the detention of Saidjafar Usmonzod. The defendants have consistently pleaded not guilty, and in December 2024, they formally rejected charges of treason and attempted seizure of power.

Justice

Uzbek National Arrested in Florida Voter Fraud Case

An Uzbek national residing in Florida been arrested for allegedly submitting fraudulent voter registration applications, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced. According to U.S. authorities, Sanjar Jamilov, a 33-year-old Uzbek citizen living in the Florida town of St. Petersburg, conspired to file 132 false applications with election officials in Pinellas County in early 2023. The fraudulent applications, submitted under different names, exhibited clear signs of irregularity, including identical formatting, repeated birth dates, and nearly sequential Social Security numbers. The suspects also directed election-related mail to addresses they controlled. Jamilov has been charged with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud and providing false information during registration. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. The arrests come shortly after the U.S. presidential election in November 2024, in which Republican candidate Donald Trump won and has recently begun his second term. Authorities have emphasized that investigations are ongoing, and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.