Crime - The Times Of Central Asia

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Uzbek Court Sentences Ten in Attempted Assassination of Allamjonov

On February 12, Uzbekistan's Military Court announced the verdict in the attempted assassination of Komil Allamjonov, sentencing ten individuals to prison. The convicted are Shukhrat Rasulov, Shokhrukh Akhmedov, and Ismail Jahongirov, who received 23-year sentences; Javlan Yunusov - sentenced to 18 years and 6 months; Doniyor Tashkhodjayev received a 7-year sentence; the remaining five defendants were given undisclosed prison terms. Following the verdict, Allamjonov took to Facebook to reflect on the challenges of the past five months and express gratitude that the case had been resolved. “The truth can be twisted or hidden, but it will always find its way to the surface. It is destined to be revealed. A thousand thanks to Allah. Those who flee from people cannot escape the Almighty. There is still much to accomplish and many trials yet to come. May Allah grant us the strength to face them with dignity and a clear conscience. May Allah bless us all with success!” Allamjonov, a former senior official in Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration, was attacked near his home in Qibray on October 26, 2024. Gunmen opened fire on his car, but he was unharmed. Authorities launched an immediate criminal investigation. By October 27, the first suspect had been detained. A month later, on November 25, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced the arrests of seven people, including Javlan Yunusov, who was extradited from South Korea. Another suspect was later detained in Kazakhstan. In December, Uzbekistan placed two Russian citizens, Bislan Rasayev and Shamil Temirkhanov, on an Interpol international wanted list. Authorities accuse them of involvement in the attack, as well as illegal border crossing, failure to report a crime, and illegal possession of firearms. Reports suggest that Rasayev and Temirkhanov were hired for $1.5 million to assassinate both Allamjonov and Dmitry Li, the director of Uzbekistan’s Agency for Promising Projects. On December 26, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov publicly denied any Chechen involvement in the attack. However, he also made remarks targeting Allamjonov and Li, warning that they would be held accountable for their "aspersions." Some Uzbek politicians condemned Kadyrov's statement, viewing it as interference in Uzbekistan's internal affairs or even as an act of terrorist intimidation.

illegal United States Crime Export/Import

Kyrgyz Citizen Arrested in U.S. for Illegally Exporting Firearms to Russia

A Kyrgyz citizen has been accused of illegally exporting American semi-automatic rifles and pistols from the United States to Russia via Kyrgyzstan. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges on its official website. U.S. federal authorities in Brooklyn have indicted 46-year-old Kyrgyz national Sergei Zharnovnikov, alleging that he orchestrated a criminal scheme to smuggle American firearms to Russia using a front company. “Zharnovnikov traveled from Kyrgyzstan to the United States last month and was arrested on January 24, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, while attending the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show to meet with U.S. gun dealers,” the Department of Justice stated. Zharnovnikov is currently in custody and is set to stand trial in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. According to U.S. prosecutors, Zharnovnikov conspired with others to violate American export control laws by shipping firearms to Russian buyers. He reportedly signed a five-year, $900,000 contract with a Virginia-based arms company to export rifles from the U.S. to Kyrgyzstan. However, the company’s export license explicitly prohibited the resale or re-export of these weapons to Russia. Investigators allege that Zharnovnikov disregarded these restrictions, instead selling the firearms to a front company in Kyrgyzstan, which then transferred them to Russia. U.S. authorities discovered that the Bishkek-based company had signed a $10 million contract with a Moscow-based firm, suggesting the weapons may have been delivered in multiple shipments. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York John J. Durham emphasized the gravity of the case: “The defendant used a complex scheme to circumvent export controls and ship semi-automatic firearms to Russia. Today’s indictment sends a clear message that we will vigorously enforce laws designed to protect U.S. foreign policy and national security.” This is the second high-profile case involving the smuggling of American weapons to Russia. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kyrgyz security services had intercepted attempts to re-export American-made arms and weapons components to Russian organized crime groups.

Legislation Crime Mass Media Court Cases

Kazakhstan Moves to Strengthen Penalties for Inciting Ethnic Hatred

The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan has proposed tougher legislation to prevent interethnic and interreligious conflicts. Minister Aida Balayeva emphasized the need to strengthen legal responsibility for inciting discord, highlighting that approximately 4,000 religious associations representing 18 different confessions are registered in Kazakhstan. According to Balayeva, the existing legal framework should be reinforced. "It is necessary to accelerate the process of legal support for this issue," she stated. She added that the government continues to provide grant support to ethno-cultural associations as part of broader efforts to maintain interethnic harmony and unity. The ministry is also intensifying its fight against misinformation and working to enhance the security of the country’s information space. As part of these initiatives, the law "On Mass Media" was adopted. In 2023, authorities identified more than 67,000 violations of the law on online platforms, leading to the removal of over 18,000 pieces of content deemed unlawful. Additionally, efforts are underway to improve journalism standards, including specialized training programs for media professionals. Kazakhstan’s current legislation already imposes strict penalties for inciting social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious discord. Under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, offenders can face imprisonment for up to 20 years. Several recent cases highlight the government's determination to enforce these laws. In January 2025, Kazakhstani journalist Dana Ormanbayeva was placed on an international wanted list on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. At the beginning of the year, Temirlan Ensebek, author of the satirical blog QazNews24, was arrested for two months for publishing material allegedly containing clear signs of inciting interethnic hatred by insulting representatives of an entire ethnic group.

Bride Kidnapping Women's rights Crime Parliament Legislation

Abenov Among Kazakh Deputies Targeting Bride Kidnapping

Kazakhstani parliamentarian Murat Abenov has proposed introducing a specific article in the Criminal Code to criminalize bride theft, suggesting prison terms of up to ten years. While some lawmakers support his initiative, others believe existing laws are sufficient to address such crimes. Proposal to Address Bride Theft According to Abenov, three crimes against women have been recorded this year under Article 125 of the Criminal Code, which covers “Kidnapping.” However, Abenov believes the actual number of such cases is significantly higher. For instance, over the past three years, 214 women filed complaints related to bride theft, but only ten cases went to trial. Abenov has proposed a separate article in the Criminal Code to specifically address bride theft, with penalties designed to reflect the severity of the crime. His proposal includes: A minimum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of 2,000 monthly calculation indices (MCI), equivalent to 7.8 million KZT ($15,000), for kidnapping a woman to force her into marriage; If the abducted woman is under 18, if force is used, or if the crime involves multiple perpetrators, the penalty would increase to a fine of 5,000 MCI (19.6 million KZT or $37,800) or three to five years in prison; and In cases where unintentional harm to the victim’s health occurs during the abduction, the sentence could be up to ten years in prison. "If a woman is held against her will and subjected to psychological or physical pressure, the law must protect the victim," Abenov emphasized, confirming that the proposal has already been submitted to a working group for consideration. Debate Among Lawmakers This is not the first time the issue of bride theft has been raised in Kazakhstan’s parliament. In December 2023, another Mazhilis deputy, Yedil Zhanbyrshin, introduced a similar initiative, which was supported by Mazhilis Speaker Yerlan Koshanov. However, that proposal was not formalized into legislation. Some deputies argue that existing laws, such as Article 125, are sufficient. This article provides for imprisonment of four to seven years for kidnapping, regardless of the victim’s identity. "We already have articles in the Criminal Code addressing illegal detention and kidnapping. I’m not convinced we need to specify that it’s a fiancée. What’s the difference? Whether I kidnap a child, an adult, or a senior citizen, it is already a criminal offense," said MP Aidos Sarim. Bride Theft in Central Asia As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, 18 criminal cases of bride theft were initiated in Kazakhstan in 2023. Six of these cases occurred in the country’s largest city, Almaty, while one was recorded in the capital, Astana. Circumventing the bride price, alyp qashu – “take and flee” - is a ritual form of bride-snatching endemic throughout much of Central Asia. With the Soviets having destroyed swathes of local identity, debate rages as to the ethnographic roots of the practice, but what is certain is that it was on the increase in the 2010s. Most prevalent regionally in Kyrgyzstan, where it is known as Ala...

prisoners Criminal Responsibility Prison Justice Crime Islamic State

Riot in Tajik Prison Leaves Several Inmates Dead

On February 3, a riot broke out in Tajikistan's Vahdat Penitentiary No. 3/2, 15 miles from Dushanbe, resulting in the deaths of several prisoners. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Justice, the incident occurred when nine inmates - convicted over links to Islamic State and the Jihadi Salafi movement - launched an armed attack on prison staff using improvised weapons. “As a result of the attack, three guards were seriously injured,” the ministry’s statement said. The prisoners, armed with makeshift knives, refused to comply with prison authorities and attempted to kill security personnel in an escape attempt. According to the authorities, the prison guards responded with firearms, killing three of the attackers and detaining the others. The injured staff members received medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities also confirmed that security at the facility has been fully restored. While official reports initially listed three inmate fatalities, some sources suggest that the actual number of prisoner deaths may be higher. Condemning the treatment of detainees by officials at the prison, the Civil Committee for the Rescue of Hostages and Political Prisoners of Tajikistan (CCHP) stated that “at least 10 prisoners were killed and a number were injured as a result of guards shooting at prisoners.” Despite reports that the detainees had briefly raised the Islamic State flag over the prison, CCHP claimed that those killed were political prisoners who had no connection to ISIS or any other banned group. History of Prison Riots in Tajikistan This is not the first violent uprising within Tajikistan’s penitentiary system. In May 2019, inmates in the same facility armed with knives took three staff members hostage and killed them. They also executed five fellow prisoners before security forces suppressed the riot. Among those killed was Behruz Halimov, son of Gulmurod Halimov, a former Tajik special forces officer who later joined ISIS. The riot left 29 prisoners dead, and Tajikistan’s Supreme Court subsequently increased the sentences of 28 convicts involved in the incident. ISIS claimed responsibility for the riot. In November 2018, a similar riot occurred in a high-security prison in Khujand, where 21 inmates and two prison staff members were killed. Five guards were also injured. Following an investigation, 33 prisoners stood trial, and nine prison officials, including the warden, received prison sentences for negligence. Broader Security Concerns In recent years, Tajikistan has witnessed numerous escape attempts from detention facilities, though nearly all have ended in failure. Most escape organizers have either been killed during apprehension or recaptured. These recurring incidents highlight ongoing security challenges within the country’s prison system and underscore the need for further reforms to prevent future outbreaks of violence.

Russia investigation Crime Ukraine

New Arrests Made in Moscow Over Russian General’s Killing

Batukhan Tochiyev and Ramazan Padiyev have been detained in connection with the assassination of Russian General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense (RCBD) Forces. According to a report by RIA Novosti, the arrests were announced by Svetlana Petrenko, the official representative of the Investigative Committee. “Based on the collected evidence, Tochiyev and Padiyev have been charged with carrying out a terrorist act as part of an organized group under Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code. The court has been petitioned to place them under detention,” Petrenko said. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSS) had arrested another suspect, Akhmadzhon Kurbonov, a 1995-born Uzbek citizen. According to the investigation, Tochiyev and Padiyev rented a hostel room in the Moscow region for Kurbonov, who is alleged to have carried out the attack. Kurbonov was apprehended while attempting to flee after the bombing. Petrenko added that the authorities are continuing their investigation in collaboration with the FSS and Ministry of Internal Affairs to identify the individuals responsible for planning and organizing the attack. The suspects are believed to have operated under the guidance of a still-unknown curator. The Basmanny Court of Moscow has ordered the detention of Tochiyev and Padiyev until February 17. General Igor Kirillov and his assistant, Major Ilya Polikarpov, were killed on December 17 at approximately 6:00 a.m. when a bomb concealed in a scooter exploded near the entrance of a residential building on Ryazansky Prospekt as they exited the building. Kurbonov was detained the following day. According to investigators, he claimed he'd been acting on the orders of Ukrainian special services and that he was promised $100,000 and relocation to a European Union country in exchange for carrying out the attack. Authorities are now focused on uncovering the broader network behind the plot, which they believe was orchestrated as part of a larger plan by external forces.