, , ,

Uzbekistan Brings Home Citizens Convicted Abroad

16 Aug 2024

@iStock

On August 13, Uzbekistan amended its Code of Criminal Procedure to compel Uzbekistan’s citizens who have been imprisoned for crimes in certain foreign countries to serve the rest of their sentences in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has so far signed agreements with only 10 countries for imprisoned persons to be transferred to prisons in Uzbekistan to continue serving their sentences.

According to Sherzod Tokhtashev, a politician from the government-aligned Miliy Tiklanish (National Revival) party, this law does not concern Uzbeks currently imprisoned in Russia. He did however mention that there are separate appeals in parliament to return Uzbek nationals convicted of crimes in Russia to domestic jails. At the same time, there are also calls for these prisoners’ families to be brought home.

“We receive requests to return children and relatives of Uzbeks from Russian prisons to Uzbekistan. Due to the lack of an agreement with Russia on the exchange of prisoners, everyone is helpless,” said Tokhtashev.

According to Uzbek government, 20 citizens of Uzbekistan are currently serving terms in Italy, 250 in Turkey, and more than 450 in Kazakhstan.

Sadokat Jalolova Jonathan Campion

Sadokat Jalolova | Jonathan Campion

Sadokat Jalolova is an Uzbek journalist who graduated from the International Journalism faculty of the Journalism and Mass Communication University of Uzbekistan.

Jalolova has worked as a reporter for some time in local newspapers and websites in Uzbekistan, and has enriched her knowledge in the field of journalism through courses at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Amsterdam.

View more articles fromSadokat Jalolova

Jonathan Campion has worked in the Eurasia region since 2007. After leaving Exeter University with a degree in Russian Language, he worked as a writer, editor, analyst and translator for international law firms, market research firms and business forums serving the CIS region's major industries, from banking and finance, to metals and pharmaceuticals, and wine and spirits. With a passion for Central Asia, he has covered the region in esteemed publications such as the Lonely Planet, Open Central Asia magazine, and National Geographic Traveler.
divider
He has translated books and poems from the region into English, and will be publishing his first book, about a sports team that saved lives at the start of Russia-Ukraine war, in April of 2024.

View more articles fromJonathan
Tags:
, , ,