Mirziyoyev Pardons 852 Convicts for 35th Independence Anniversary

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree pardoning 852 serving convicts who expressed remorse and demonstrated firm reform, timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence, state television channel Uzbekistan 24 reported.

Under the decree, 604 individuals are fully released from serving their main sentences. An additional 115 convicts are granted early conditional release from further sentence service. Assigned sentences were commuted to milder penalties for 52 individuals, while prison terms were reduced for another 81 convicts.

The pardoned group includes seven foreign nationals and 63 individuals who participated in the activities of banned organizations. Demographically, the group encompasses 375 young people, 49 women, and 37 men aged over 60.

This decision marks the latest pardon decree issued by Mirziyoyev. Since 2017, the head of state has issued 31 pardon decrees affecting a total of 10,567 convicted individuals.

In 2025, the president pardoned 523 convicts ahead of Independence Day, followed by an additional decree pardoning 615 individuals ahead of Constitution Day. In early 2026, 392 individuals received pardons ahead of the Navruz and Ramazan Hayit holidays.

The new decree provides various forms of leniency—ranging from complete release to term reductions—for 852 convicts in connection with the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence.