Tashkent Pensioner Case Leads to Dismissals and Criminal Charges

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The National Social Protection Agency under the President of Uzbekistan has taken special control of the situation involving 86-year-old Lyudmila Zhuravleva, a resident of the "Habib Abdullaev" makhalla in Tashkent's Mirzo-Ulugbek district.

Following an investigation, responsible officials were dismissed from their posts, and a criminal case was opened regarding potential fraud involving the conveyance of the pensioner's apartment.

The situation gained public attention after a young man involved in lock-picking posted videos on social networks on 27 July 2026, in which the elderly woman stated she was at home without food and was afraid to stay alone.

He helped open the apartment door and delivered groceries to her. In the video, a neighbor stated that the pensioner regularly asked for help and that there was no food in the refrigerator.

On the same day, the National Social Protection Agency announced the start of an investigation into the circumstances and an assessment of the elderly woman's needs.

The following day, the khokimiyat of the Mirzo-Ulugbek district stated that the pensioner was registered on the roster of solitary elderly citizens, received a pension, material assistance provided by law, and home social and domestic services under the "Step to an Active Life" program.

According to the district administration, part of the information circulated in the video was not confirmed. In particular, it was established that the apartment had water and natural gas, and that the gas valve was temporarily removed by a social worker for safety reasons. It was also claimed that the social worker visited the woman regularly according to an approved schedule.

The khokimiyat explained that due to deteriorating memory, the pensioner did not always recognize visitors, so one set of keys was kept by her and another by the social worker. The district administration also stated that the use of the woman's bank card was monitored through an electronic platform in accordance with legislation.

On 31 July 2026, the National Social Protection Agency announced the completion of its review. The agency established that the monitoring group of the district "Inson" social services center and the district medical association failed to identify the deterioration of the pensioner's condition in a timely manner and did not determine her need for constant care. Consequently, the responsible officials were dismissed from their posts.

According to the agency, home social and domestic services had been provided to the woman four times a week since 11 June under a voucher system. An additional medical examination confirmed she suffers from stage II–III dyscirculatory encephalopathy, cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, and generalized osteochondrosis.

The agency noted that the pensioner's health condition does not allow her to meet her daily needs independently and creates a high risk of harm to herself and others. Consequently, she was placed in a Social Support Center, where medical assistance and round-the-clock care are provided. According to the agency, her condition is assessed as stable.

On 30 July 2026, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that the pensioner's apartment had been transferred to another individual based on a notarized purchase and sale agreement dated 25 September 2025.

To investigate the circumstances of the transaction, including the woman's ability to understand the significance of her actions at the time of alienation of the property, as well as a possible version of fraud, a criminal case was opened under Paragraph "a" of Part 4 of Article 168 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan.