The press service of Uzbekistan’s Supreme Judicial Council has released an official statement announcing the results of a review into the activities of two sitting judges. Following the assessment, a decision was taken to terminate their judicial powers ahead of schedule and dismiss them from their positions.
In particular, M. Samandarov, an investigating judge at the Yangiariq District Criminal Court of the Khorezm Region, was dismissed for violating the judicial oath. In addition, M. Ahmedov, a judge of the Tashkent Regional Court, was removed from office for failing to comply with the requirements of the Code of Judicial Ethics. In both cases, judicial authority was revoked prematurely.
The Supreme Judicial Council did not disclose specific details regarding the circumstances that led to these decisions.
At the same time, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported that criminal proceedings have been initiated against judges who reviewed the appeal in the Akmal Shukurov case. According to investigators, judges of the Tashkent City Criminal Court — Odilbek Ilhomjonov, Mirziyod Abidov, and Muhtarama Turg‘unova — along with the former deputy chairman of the Tashkent City Court, Murodjon Mirzajonov, are suspected of issuing an unlawful and unjust court ruling.
It is alleged that Murodjon Mirzajonov abused his official position by interfering in the administration of justice and exerting illegal pressure on judges. As a result, the sentence imposed by the court of first instance — 8 years and 1 month of imprisonment for Akmal Shukurov — was altered, and the preventive detention measure was lifted.
The appellate court applied Article 57 of the Criminal Code, replacing the custodial sentence with a lighter punishment, after which the defendant was released directly from the courtroom. According to the investigation, this decision violated the principle of inevitability of punishment and led to serious consequences.
On this basis, criminal cases were opened against Murodjon Mirzajonov under relevant articles of the Criminal Code, while the judges involved in the appellate review are charged with abuse of office. All individuals have been named as defendants, and a preventive measure in the form of detention has been applied.
Preliminary investigative actions in this criminal case are currently being carried out by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Akmal Shukurov criminal case consists of several episodes, the most high-profile of which occurred in September of this year near the The Tower hotel in Tashkent’s Yakkasaroy District. The incident involved the severe beating of several individuals.
According to case materials, Shukurov struck Boris Avakyan with significant force, causing him to fall into a coma. The victim underwent emergency surgery and sustained life-threatening injuries. Shukurov later fled the scene, was detained in Kazakhstan, and subsequently extradited to Uzbekistan.
By a verdict of the Mirzo Ulugbek District Court dated October 24, 2025, Akmal Shukurov was found guilty of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm, fraud, and hooliganism, and was sentenced to 8 years and 1 month of imprisonment.
However, on December 9, the appellate panel of the Tashkent City Court replaced the prison term with 4 years and 1 month of restricted liberty and ordered Shukurov’s immediate release from custody. Following strong public reaction and extensive media coverage, the case was reviewed by the supervisory instance.
As a result of the review, the sentence was increased to 6 years of imprisonment, and Akmal Shukurov was returned to custody. Subsequently, a service investigation was launched against the judges who issued the appellate decision, leading to their dismissal from office.
Source: Kun.uz, based on official statements from the Supreme Judicial Council and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan.