Tashkent City Court Judges Dismissed for Reducing Sentence of Attacker on Boris Avakyan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Supreme Judicial Council of Uzbekistan announced the early termination of the powers of three judges of the Tashkent City Criminal Court for violating legal procedures in the administration of justice.

Judges Mukhtaram Mahamadaliyevna Turgunova, Odilbek Ilhomzhon Ugli Ilhomzhonov, and Mirziyod Mirjololitdinovich Abidov had previously reduced on appeal the sentence of Akmali Shukurov, who brutally assaulted Boris Avakyan in March.

Originally, the Mirzo-Ulugbek District Court on 24 October sentenced Shukurov to 8 years and 1 month of imprisonment under a combination of charges, including fraud, hooliganism, and intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm. On December 9, the appellate court replaced the prison sentence with a restriction of freedom for 4 years and 1 month, citing the position of the victims.

Following the submission of a supervisory protest by the Tashkent Prosecutor’s Office, on 18 December the supervisory panel of the Tashkent City Court annulled the appellate decision and sentenced Shukurov to 6 years in prison, taking partial cumulative punishment into account. Considering time already spent in detention, 5 years, 3 months, and 12 days remain to be served.

The assault occurred near The Tower Hotel in March. The victim sustained severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, underwent surgery, and was placed in a coma. Shukurov fled, was detained in Kazakhstan, and extradited to Uzbekistan.

The Supreme Judicial Council emphasized that the dismissal of the judges was due to violations of legality and judicial standards amid widespread public reaction.