Three employees of the Department for Coordination of the Activities of Internal Affairs Bodies in the Yangihayot district of Tashkent city were accused of exceeding their official powers and torturing detained citizens. The Chilanzor district court issued a verdict against them on May 16. darakchi.uz has reviewed the court document.
M.K., serving a sentence in a penal colony in Zangiota district of Tashkent region, conspired with several people to distribute large amounts of drugs. In August 2024, he told PPH inspector B.SH. that a large amount of drugs would be hidden across from the unfinished building of the “Minerva City” residential complex on Katta Halqa Yo’li Street, and that it would be picked up by people in a black Spark car, asking B.SH. to ensure that his acquaintances could safely transport the drugs.
On the night of August 4, 2024, PPH inspectors B.SH. and K.M. observed the area where the drugs were hidden outside their service area. However, K.M. was unaware of the large amount of drugs hidden there.
The inspectors stopped citizens M.A. and SH.SH., suspecting them of involvement with drugs. Inspector B.SH. pretended to find the previously concealed drugs in the area known to him, and without the participation of impartial witnesses, took the physical evidence with his own hands and placed it on top of his car trunk.
Subsequently, the inspectors called the relevant officers to the scene. The senior operational representative of the Yangihayot district IIO FMB, F.Q., independently conducted the investigation without informing the higher management, and used torture against the suspects.
After refusing to confess, the arrested M.A. reported being treated harshly.
“I was taken to a room without cameras. They handcuffed me, forced my hands up against the wall. Then they put several black bags over my head and wrapped it with tape. I was suffocating. Then they hit me on the back and legs, used an electric shocker”, says M.A.
The examination confirmed that he had numerous injuries, including those characteristic of electric shock impacts and burns.
M.A., along with SH.SH. who was detained with him, describes the torture as follows:
“They hit me in the stomach and face. Then one of them took an insect-killing device and started to beat me. They burned my beard. They said they would burn me alive if I didn’t testify against my friends...”
Moreover, acquaintances of M.A. and SH.SH., namely A.I., I.S., and Yu.T. (a woman), also arrived at the scene and were brought to the Yangihayot district IIO FMB with handcuffs on without being provided legal protection. IIB officers inflicted serious bodily harm on A.I.
“One of the officers beat me until I agreed to sign the necessary papers. A “baton” hit my head. After that, my eardrum was torn”, he said.
According to the medical report, A.I. suffered from severe head injury, bodily injuries, and signs of psychological trauma.
I.S. also reported being tortured with elements of sexual abuse.
“They took off my pants. One of the officers approached my genitals with a lighter saying: “If you confess, I will let you go; if not, I will burn you right here.” I was panicking, barely holding myself together”, he said.
According to the forensic examination dated August 12, no injuries were found on I.S.'s body.
In court, F.Q., B.SH., and K.M. partially admitted their guilt. F.Q. claimed that physical torture was not used against the citizens, stating that they had voluntarily provided explanatory letters. However, the victims confirmed that they had been subjected to physical torture.
By the verdict of the Chilanzor district court on May 16, F.Q., born in 1987, a senior operational officer of the Yangihayot district IIO FMB, was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month, PPH inspector B.SH., born in 1986, to 11 years, and PPH inspector K.M., born in 1991, to 5 years and 1 month of imprisonment. All three were ordered to serve their sentences in a general regime colony.
