Zairbek Pirzhanov
Driver
Imprisoned
Article 244 part 3 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan — Mass disturbances (participation in mass riots)
Pirzhanov was prosecuted in the Case of 39 participants in the 2022 Karakalpakstan unrest, whose trial began in Bukhara on 6 February 2023. The case concerned the July 2022 protests opposing constitutional amendments affecting the autonomous status of Karakalpakstan. Authorities classified the demonstrations as riots and prosecuted participants under criminal law. Human-rights observers consider the prosecutions politically motivated because they target individuals who participated in protests against the constitutional reforms. The verdict was delivered on 17 March 2023, and later partially revised by the Supreme Court on 12 June 2023.
Pirzhanov was initially sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment, later reduced to 6 years on appeal.
No publicly available information regarding his health condition.
