Kashkadarya Resident Sentenced to 10 Years for Terrorism

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A 31-year-old resident of Kashkadarya Region has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of involvement in extremist activity and financing terrorism, Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SSS) said.

According to the SSS, the man enrolled at a university in South Korea in 2017. During his studies, around 2020, he encountered materials produced by terrorist organizations through social media, after which he began communicating with their members and distributing related materials.

After graduating from university, the man remained in South Korea, where he continued working. In late 2023, he joined a Telegram group called Murg’ak qalblar (“Defenseless Hearts”), whose participants were encouraged to send money to people in need.

The SSS said the man stated that he had transferred money after believing a blogger, Saad Muxtor, a Kyrgyzstan citizen who is wanted internationally. During the same period, he returned to Uzbekistan.

In July 2024, according to investigators, the man travelled to Turkey with the intention of joining militants in Syria.

He was unable to carry out the plan and subsequently returned to Uzbekistan.

Law enforcement authorities detained the man during an operational operation.

The court found him guilty under Articles 244-1, 244-2, 155-2 and 155-3 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code. The articles provide for liability for the production, possession, distribution or display of materials containing threats to public safety and public order; the creation, leadership of or participation in banned organizations; undergoing training, travelling or moving for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities; and financing terrorism.

In a video released by the SSS, the man said that despite knowing several languages, receiving education abroad and having a profession, he was deceived and regretted his actions.