Prisoner in Tashkent Region Seeks Justice for Torture and Unjust Discipline
A prisoner in Tashkent region has raised concerns about being tortured by colony staff and unjustly placed in a disciplinary unit for 10 days. The inmate, identified as T.I., serving his sentence at Correctional Facility No. 50, reported the abuse to the Ombudsman. Following the intervention of the Ombudsman’s office, he was released from the disciplinary unit.
It was discovered that the prisoner was wrongly placed in the disciplinary unit on February 27, 2025, and kept there for 10 days. However, the decision was reviewed by the Tashkent special prosecutor and subsequently revoked. The actions of the colony staff were found to be in violation of the Criminal-Execution Code, particularly Articles 105 and 111.
Upon investigation by Ombudsman staff, it was found that T.I. had been admitted to the Piskent district central hospital with visible signs of physical abuse on his head and chest. He had been held in the disciplinary unit for six days without valid justification, leading to a violation of his rights.
The Ombudsman has sent a monitoring letter to the General Prosecutor’s Office, urging action against the staff members responsible for the misconduct. This incident comes amidst reports of two prisoner deaths in Tashkent region’s correctional facilities this year.
One of the deaths occurred on February 14, when a 21-year-old man passed away from a heart attack in a correctional facility in Almalyk. His mother and human rights activists alleged signs of torture on his body, casting doubt on the official explanation.
Shortly after, on February 16, another prisoner died in a hospital after being trapped under a collapsed wall at Tovaksoy prison. The Ombudsman and Tashkent special prosecutor’s office are currently investigating both cases, with a criminal case initiated for “violation of labor protection rules.”
The investigations into these incidents highlight the need for accountability and transparency within the correctional system to prevent further instances of abuse and ensure the safety and well-being of prisoners.
