Uzbek authorities must initiate an investigation into allegations of torture against convict Nozimjon Abdullaev during his pre-trial detention by the State Security Service of Uzbekistan and bring those responsible to justice, Freedom for Eurasia, the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan “Ezgulik”, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights said in a statement today. The groups also demanded that Uzbekistani authorities ensure that Abdullayev receives proper medical treatment for his ailments.
Nozimjon Abdullaev, a former government official and former head of State Inspection under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, alleges that the State Security Service of Uzbekistan has subjected him to physical and psychological torture in pre-trial detention. In a letter shared with the undersigning human rights groups and addressed to the President of Uzbekistan, Abdullaev claims that he was subjected to severe torture by security service personnel and that his nails were pulled out with pliers, in an attempt to extract false testimony against high-ranking officials.
On 24 January 2025, officers from the security service and the “Burgut” (Eagle) special unit detained Abdullaev at the “Toshshaharsuv” building located in Mirabad District in Tashkent. The officers took him to the Investigative Department of the State Security Service, where he was informed of charges against him under Article 157 (Treason) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 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. 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). The trial was held behind closed doors, and the case materials have been classified.
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.
In an interview with RFE/RL’s Uzbek service on January 11, 2025, Abdullaev’s father, Bakhodir Abdullaev, detailed the torture of his son. The father said that during the court proceedings last year Abdullaev had shown him injuries such as burn marks on his arms and stomach which he claimed stemmed from him being burned with a lighter in pre-trial detention. According to the father, his shoulder at the time still bore marks of severe beatings with batons. Abdullaev’s father also met with Abdullaev during a prison visit in December 2025 – he subsequently told RFE/RL that several of Abdullaev’s toenails had been pulled during torture and that one of his toes had turned black. The father also reported that several of Abdullaev’s wounds had not healed due to his Type 2 Diabetes. During the visit, Abdullaev warned his father that if he dies in prison it would be at the hands of the security service.
Torture is strictly prohibited in Uzbekistan under multiple layers of domestic and international law. Article 235 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan criminalizes the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, with penalties of up to ten years’ imprisonment. This prohibition is reinforced by Uzbekistan’s ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1995. A key milestone in strengthening these protections came in 2023, when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed into law the updated Constitution – adopted by nationwide referendum – which explicitly enshrines the ban on torture. Article 26 of the Constitution declares that human honor and dignity are inviolable and that no one shall be subjected to torture, violence, or any other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment
Nozimjon Abdullaev’s health condition is a cause for serious concern. He has type 2 diabetes and requires regular medication. However, state security officials have reportedly withheld medication delivered by his relatives to exert additional pressure on him. In his letter, Abdullaev reports that his leg is infected as a result of the treatment at the hands of authorities.
Nozimjon Abdullaev is eligible for release pursuant to Decision No. 1854 of 9 September 2008 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, entitled “On the Approval of the Rules for Conducting Medical Examinations of Prisoners Suffering from Serious Illnesses and for Submitting Them for Release from Serving a Sentence Due to Illness.” Type 2 diabetes is included in Annex 1 to the Decision, entitled “List of Diseases Constituting Grounds for Submitting Convicted Persons for Release from Serving a Sentence Due to Illness.”
The undersigning organizations call on the Uzbek authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of torture and to bring those responsible to justice. Furthermore, Nozimjon Abdullaev must be provided with adequate, specialized medical treatment for his diabetes and for all other ailments he is suffering as a direct result of his treatment in detention and prison, and the security services must refrain from withholding the medications required for his treatment.
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