Crime - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 169

Crime

Uzbekistan Uncovers Criminal Network Trafficking Human Organs

Uzbekistan’s State Security Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs have uncovered a transnational criminal network involved in the illegal trafficking of human organs. Authorities report that the group included 12 individuals from Tashkent and the Tashkent, Fergana, Bukhara, and Kashkadarya regions. The suspects allegedly used social media platforms to identify patients with kidney and liver conditions, while simultaneously recruiting healthy individuals willing to sell their organs in exchange for large sums of money. With the help of accomplices abroad, the group reportedly forged identity documents to present donors as close relatives of patients, thereby enabling organ transplants to be carried out at a private clinic in a neighboring country. Investigators said that between 2023 and 2025, at least 32 patients underwent kidney or liver transplants arranged by the network. Large payments were collected from recipients, with portions paid to the clinic and donors, while the remainder was divided among the organizers. In cases where patients experienced complications or failed to improve post-surgery, the group allegedly sold them strong painkillers at inflated prices. Criminal charges have been filed under provisions of the Criminal Code related to illegal organ trafficking, document forgery, smuggling, and drug-related offenses. The case has now been referred to the court system for further proceedings. Illegal organ trade has emerged as a broader regional issue. In April 2024, Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (SCNS) announced the arrest of individuals connected to an international network facilitating black-market organ sales. According to the SCNS, the group identified wealthy foreign patients willing to pay high prices for transplants and recruited Kyrgyz citizens as donors using fraudulent methods. Donors received between $1,000 and $7,000 for a kidney, while the organizers reportedly earned up to $70,000 per operation.

Crime

Kazakh Businessman Almaz Zaripov Detained in Bishkek

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) has confirmed the detention of Kazakh citizen Almaz Zaripov, president of the Agrarian and Industrial Union of Kazakhstan, in Bishkek. The arrest, which occurred at the end of August, followed a public appeal by Zaripov’s wife to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which garnered widespread attention on social media. According to Kyrgyz authorities, the case stems from a March 2025 complaint by two Bishkek residents. The complainants allege that a 51-year-old man offered them a “lucrative business” opportunity involving grain imports from Kazakhstan. After transferring $2.5 million, the alleged supplier ceased communication and disappeared. Zaripov's wife claims the charges are fabricated and alleges the real motive is to seize the company’s assets and extort a large sum of money. The SCNS rejected these accusations, stating that a criminal case was opened based on a Kyrgyz citizen’s complaint of embezzlement. “During the investigation, this fact was confirmed. The citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan was detained, charged, and the court imposed a preventive measure in the form of detention for the duration of the investigation. The investigation is being conducted in full compliance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic,” the agency said in a statement. The committee added that Zaripov has pleaded guilty and has begun compensating the victims. Authorities are considering whether to revise the conditions of his detention. This is not the first time a Kazakh national has faced legal trouble in Kyrgyzstan. Earlier, businessman Kamalutin Khalikov was placed on a wanted list on charges of financing the criminal group led by Kamchybek Asanbek, also known as Kamchy Kolbayev, who was killed during a police operation on October 4, 2023.

Russia

Russia Opens Criminal Case After Attack on Uzbek Migrants in Vladivostok

Russian authorities have opened a criminal investigation following a violent assault on Uzbek migrants in Vladivostok, carried out by a group of teenagers. The incident, which occurred several days ago, was recorded on video and widely circulated on social media, sparking public outrage. The footage shows the young attackers beating the migrants, mocking them, and shouting insults while one of them filmed and laughed. According to the press service of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Primorsky Krai, the assault took place during the night of September 10 on Khabarovskaya Street. Investigators reported that the 15-year-old suspects, allegedly intoxicated, first damaged a parked car and sprayed an aerosol can inside it before attacking the driver. They later entered a 24-hour store and beat another man in front of staff and customers. The group also assaulted a truck driver, a taxi driver, and his passenger, using stones and other objects as weapons while shouting loudly in the street. The committee confirmed that one suspect has been detained, while two others remain at large. All are described in police records as negatively characterized, and at least one is already on trial in a separate hooliganism case stemming from an incident at a local store. If convicted, the suspects could face up to seven years in prison under Article 213, Part 2, of Russia’s Criminal Code, which addresses aggravated hooliganism. Uzbekistan’s Consul General in Vladivostok, Yusuf Qobiljonov, stated that the victims filed an official complaint with local police. Diplomatic notes have also been sent to Russia’s Foreign Ministry office in Vladivostok and the Primorsky Krai Prosecutor’s Office, urging authorities to take appropriate measures. Qobiljonov emphasized that the case is being closely monitored by both the Uzbek consulate and Russian law enforcement agencies.

Russia

Attack on Uzbek Migrants in Vladivostok Prompts Diplomatic Response

An attack on Uzbek migrants in the Russian city of Vladivostok has drawn an official response from Uzbekistan’s diplomatic mission, following reports of violence and online footage showing the assault. On September 13, a group of local youths reportedly attacked several migrants from Uzbekistan on the city's Khabarovskaya street, according to Russian media outlet Vladivostok1. Eyewitnesses said the altercation began when the group began throwing stones at cars carrying the migrants. When the drivers got out to confront them, they were physically assaulted. Several people sustained injuries in the incident. Videos circulated online show the assailants laughing, shouting, and encouraging each other to “hit” the migrants. In one clip, a driver attempts to defend himself with a scooter while demanding that one of the attackers drop a knife. Another migrant was pursued into a store and struck in the face. The individual recording the video acknowledged the presence of surveillance cameras but continued filming. According to Vladivostok1, local police have launched an investigation. While no victims or witnesses initially came forward to file complaints, authorities believe the majority of the attackers were minors. Uzbekistan’s Consul General in Vladivostok, Yusuf Qobiljonov, confirmed that the consulate had promptly contacted the injured citizens and provided legal support. Uzbek nationals have since submitted an official complaint to the Vladivostok Interior Department. Diplomatic notes have also been sent to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s regional office and the Prosecutor’s Office of Primorsky Krai, requesting appropriate legal action. Qobiljonov stated that the case remains under the direct oversight of both Uzbekistan’s consulate and Russian law enforcement agencies. He urged media outlets to rely solely on official information from the Foreign Ministry and diplomatic representatives to prevent misinformation. The incident follows a similar controversy earlier this year, when a video circulated showing a Russian citizen calling an Uzbek immigrant a “slave of the Russians.” That case also prompted Uzbekistan to issue a diplomatic note to the Russian government.

Border Incident

Two Kyrgyz Citizens Shot Dead by Uzbek Border Guards Near Tripoint Frontier

According to the Kyrgyz Border Service, two Kyrgyz citizens were shot and killed on August 15 near the junction of the Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Kazakh borders after allegedly failing to comply with Uzbek border guards during an attempted detention. Their bodies were returned to Kyrgyzstan via the Baymak checkpoint, and authorities from both countries are conducting a joint investigation. The two men, residents of Aygyr-Zhal village in Kyrgyzstan’s Chatkal District, were reported missing on August 25. During bilateral consultations held three days later, the Uzbek authorities informed their Kyrgyz counterparts that on August 15, an Uzbek border patrol had encountered two unidentified individuals in the border zone. According to the Uzbek side, the men ignored orders to stop, prompting border guards to open fire. Both men sustained fatal injuries. On August 31, family members of the deceased traveled to Uzbekistan to identify the bodies, which were subsequently returned to Kyrgyzstan for forensic examination. Uzbek officials also expressed their readiness to return the men's belongings, including three horses and a tent. Authorities in both countries have confirmed that the incident will be subject to a formal investigation, with its findings to be made public. The shooting follows the resolution of a decades-long border demarcation process involving Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. In March 2025, after nearly twenty years of negotiations, the three countries agreed on the official tripoint demarcation during talks in Dushanbe. While that agreement was hailed as a breakthrough in regional cooperation, the recent incident underscores the lingering sensitivities and security challenges along portions of the border.

Crime

Kazakhstan Introduces Criminal Liability for Stalking

For the first time, Kazakhstan has established criminal liability for stalking at the legislative level, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. New Article in the Criminal Code On July 16, 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law amending the Criminal Code to include Article 115-1, titled “Stalking.” The article defines stalking as the unlawful pursuit of an individual through persistent attempts to establish contact or conduct surveillance against their will, causing significant harm but without the use of physical violence. Punishments include a fine of up to 200 monthly calculation indices (MCI), up to 200 hours of community service, or arrest for up to 50 days. If stalking involves threats, blackmail, or invasion of privacy, it may be prosecuted under other provisions of the Criminal Code. “The purpose of introducing this liability is to protect victims at an early stage and to establish zero tolerance for violent and aggressive behavior,” the Prosecutor General’s Office stated. From Proposal to Law The idea to criminalize stalking was first raised in 2023 during a coordination council meeting at the Prosecutor General’s Office. Marat Abishev, head of the Service for the Protection of Public Interests, highlighted the growing prevalence of obsessive harassment, particularly targeting women. “Women are increasingly faced with the phenomenon of stalking, that is, obsessive persecution,” he said. Abishev noted that many countries, including Germany, the US, Canada, the UK, Norway, Poland, Moldova, the Netherlands, and India, have long established criminal penalties for stalking. In contrast, Kazakhstan lacked even administrative regulation until now. Abishev initially proposed studying the issue and introducing relevant amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. However, the country has since taken a stronger stance by enacting full criminal liability. The General Prosecutor’s Office urges citizens not to ignore signs of stalking. “In such situations, it is necessary to immediately contact the internal affairs authorities,” the agency advised. How to Identify Stalking In an interview with MIR24.TV, lawyer Artem Baghdasaryan explained that under the new Kazakh legislation, stalking involves intrusive, repeated attempts to contact or monitor a person against their will, resulting in significant psychological or personal harm but without physical violence. He emphasized that stalking is defined by systematic behavior rather than isolated incidents. Key indicators include: Continuous surveillance near the victim’s home or in public Frequent phone calls, text messages, or unwanted social media interactions Collecting personal data without consent, such as routes or contacts Lurking in public places frequented by the victim Internationally, this list often includes online harassment and the sending of unsolicited gifts. Comparison with International Practice Many Western countries have recognized stalking as a criminal offense since the 1990s, with laws in the US, UK, and Germany carrying prison terms for offenders. In contrast, Russia has not yet adopted a separate criminal statute. There, lawmakers have proposed a phased approach: beginning with administrative liability and restraining orders, followed by criminal prosecution for repeat offenses. “While Kazakhstan has taken a decisive step by introducing a criminal article right away, Russia is moving toward gradual...