Nozimjon Abdullayev
Nozimjon Abdullayev, a former government official and former head of State Inspection under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change.
He is currently imprisoned for 15-years and serving a custodial sentence in the general regime colony.
Article 157 (Treason) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The court found him guilty on five counts under the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, including Article 157 (Treason) and Article 141, Part 1 (Violation of Privacy).
His trial was held by the Military Criminal Court in Tashkent on 23 June 2025. It was conducted behind closed doorsand with classified case materials, meaning that independent observers could not review evidence or proceedings. The court found him guilty on five counts — including treason and violation of privacy and handed down a 15-year prison sentence. Abdullaev denies all charges and human-rights advocates state the prosecution’s claims are linked to alleged involvement in a now-deleted ElTuz article alleging corruption, which he strongly disputes.
Abdullayev was held in pre-trial detention for six months until the Military Criminal Court in Tashkent sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment on June 23, 2025.
Abdullaev reports that he was tortured in pre-trial detention until January 31, 2025 – in his hand-written letter Abdullaev reports that state security officers applied physical force to him on several occasions and that inmates, that were placed in his cell, used force on him and threatened to kill him. According to the letter, two named officers first used force against him already on January 25 – the day following his detention – while trying to coerce him to give false testimony against officials close to the president. Abdullaev claims the same officers used force against him on January 27, while threatening him with 15 years’ imprison if he would not comply and give false testimony. On the same day, two recidivist inmates were placed in his cell and reportedly used force against him and threatened to kill him were he not to comply with the request of the officers. According to the letter, these inmates also knew where his family lives. According to the letter, the officers also accused him of involvement in the publication of an article published by the independent media outlet “ElTuz” and later unpublished. Abdullaev denies any involvement in the article.
Abdullaev’s health condition is a major concern. He suffers from type 2 diabetes, which requires regular medication. According to his own letter and reporting by family members shared with human-rights organisations, medications brought by relatives were withheld by security officials while he was in detention, exacerbating his condition. Family members have also described burns, severe beatings, marks from lighter burns, pulled toenails, and wounds that have not healed — complications worsened by his diabetes. Advocates report that conditions in detention have put him at risk of infection and gangrene in his legs.
