Men Sentenced for Illegal Lottery Operation in Karakalpakstan
Two Men Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Organizing Illegal Lottery Games in Karakalpakstan
Two individuals, Rashid Ibragimov and Temur Bayramov, have been handed a 7.5-year prison sentence for illegally organizing lottery games in the Tortkul district of Karakalpakstan. Born in 1984 and 1985 respectively, the duo was found guilty of violating gambling laws and profiting from unlawful activities.
Court documents reviewed by Kun.uz revealed that Ibragimov and Bayramov ran their illicit lottery operation under the guise of the YouTube channel “Tortkul-95” from 2022 until September 5, 2023. They targeted Uzbek migrants in Russia and Kazakhstan, selling lottery tickets for 1,400 rubles or 8,500 tenge, while in Uzbekistan, tickets were priced at 200,000 UZS.
Each lottery event organized by the pair featured 6,290 tickets with prizes ranging from cars to household appliances. Their scheme was brought to an end when authorities apprehended them during a live-streamed event in the Shurakhon village of Tortkul on September 5, 2023, leading to their subsequent arrest and custody.
On March 20, 2024, the Shumanay District Court imposed a 7.5-year prison term on Ibragimov and Bayramov under Article 278, part 2 (a, b) of the Criminal Code for organizing and conducting illegal gambling and lottery activities, as well as Article 243 for the laundering of criminal proceeds. Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of 56 billion 623 million UZS (approximately $4.9 million) in funds generated from their illicit operation for state benefit.
The appellate court in Karakalpakstan upheld the original verdict on September 30, 2024. This case comes in the wake of previous reports by Kun.uz in May 2022 highlighting the growing problem of illegal lotteries in Karakalpakstan, particularly focusing on the activities of channels like “Tortkul-95.”
