Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A Tashkent regional court on 13 November sentenced a former deputy chairman of the Tashkent City Criminal Court and three former judges in a case involving official negligence and interference in judicial proceedings, the regional courts’ press service said.
The former deputy chairman, identified as M. M., was found guilty of official negligence and interference in the adjudication of court cases.
He received no punishment under Article 207, Part 1 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code because the statute of limitations for prosecution had expired. This is provided for under Article 64 of the Code.
Under Article 236, Part 2, the court sentenced him to four years in prison. He was also barred for three years from holding positions involving the exercise of official powers within the judicial system.
Former judges Odilbek Ilkhomjonov, Mirziyod Abidov and Mukhtaram Turgunova were found guilty under Article 231, Part 1, which concerns the delivery of an unjust judgment.
Each received a four-year restriction of liberty and was barred for three years from holding positions involving the exercise of official powers within the judicial system.
The defendants have the right to appeal the verdict through appellate or cassation proceedings.
In December 2025, the powers of the three judges were terminated early for violating the law in the administration of justice.
The decision followed public controversy over the revision of the sentence imposed on Akmal Shukurov.
In March 2025, Shukurov assaulted Boris Avakyan near The Tower hotel in Tashkent. According to investigators, Avakyan tried to stop Shukurov’s disorderly conduct and sustained serious, life-threatening injuries.
Avakyan was hospitalised with a traumatic brain injury. He underwent emergency surgery and fell into a coma. Shukurov fled after the incident but was later detained in Kazakhstan and extradited to Uzbekistan.
On 24 October 2025, the Mirzo-Ulugbek District Criminal Court sentenced Shukurov to eight years and one month in prison. The sentence covered offences including fraud, hooliganism and intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm.
However, on 9 December, an appellate court replaced the prison sentence with a four-year-and-one-month restriction of liberty. Among the grounds cited was the victims’ position that they had no material or moral claims against Shukurov.
Shukurov was released from the courtroom after the ruling was announced.
The Tashkent Prosecutor’s Office filed a supervisory protest. On 18 December, the supervisory panel of the Tashkent City Court overturned the appellate ruling and reinstated a prison sentence of six years.
The court also reclassified the fraud offence to a less serious provision because Shukurov had fully compensated the damage. Taking into account the time he had already spent in custody, he had five years, three months and 12 days left to serve.
Following the review of the case, Uzbekistan’s Supreme Judicial Council terminated the powers of the three judges ahead of schedule. The name of the former deputy court chairman was not disclosed in the reports published at the time.
