Couple sentenced in Fergana for attempting to sell infant

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Fergana City Criminal Court found a young couple guilty of attempting to sell their own newborn child and sentenced each of them to five years of imprisonment.

According to the case materials, the man and woman met in October 2024 and began living together without official marriage registration and without the knowledge of their relatives. In October 2025, a son was born to the couple.

During the judicial proceedings, the woman stated that she decided to commit the crime due to a difficult financial situation. According to her, the money obtained was planned to be used to pay off her own debts, her husband's loans, and for a trip to Turkey to earn money.

The defendant also reported that she initially rejected the offer to sell the child, but subsequently changed her decision after reassurances from an acquaintance that the boy would be raised "in good conditions." According to her, the spouse found out about the upcoming transaction only on the day it was to be carried out. A conflict arose between them, but he subsequently agreed to assist, after which the couple intended to separate.

The court found both guilty under Article 135 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan ("Human Trafficking") and sentenced each to a punishment of five years of deprivation of liberty.

The court also ruled to transfer the issue of the child's further placement to the Social Protection Agency and the child protection department under the Kokand city hokimiyat.