The key facts

  • Two officers of the Chirchik city police department were each sentenced to six years in a general-regime colony with a three-year ban on working in law enforcement.
  • According to the investigation, on 18 February 2026 they received $2,700 so that the victim would drop his claims over the beating; $1,000 of it was given to the victim.
  • The defendants pleaded not guilty in court; the court relied on witness testimony, phone conversations and other evidence.

Verdict in the bribery case

A court in Chirchik sentenced two interior affairs officers to six years of imprisonment in a general-regime colony. N. A., 35, who held the post of head of the crime prevention department of the public safety service of the Chirchik city police department, and D. R., 31, who worked as a prevention inspector, were found guilty under sub-paragraphs 'v' and 'g' of part 2 of Article 210 (Bribe-taking), sub-paragraphs 'a' and 'b' of part 2 of Article 230-1 (Falsification of evidence) and sub-paragraph 'b' of part 2 of Article 241-1 (Deliberate concealment of a crime from registration) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Each was additionally sentenced to deprivation of the right to work in the internal affairs system for three years.

Circumstances of the beating

According to case materials, on 17 February 2026, in the Bek cafe in Chirchik, a drunken woman quarrelled with visitors and the administrator. The victim, Sh. M., tried to stop the conflict, after which the woman photographed him and others present and said that her son Umid and I. Saidov, known by the nickname 'Islam Bukharsky', would soon arrive. About 20 minutes later, several people called Sh. M. outside to 'Islam Bukharsky'. According to the victim, there were about ten young men on that side, and patrol officers were nearby. When one of the men pulled Sh. M. by the arm, Umid punched him in the jaw.

Assault and hospitalisation

Later, when Sh. M. left the cafe and was hailing a taxi, a white Gentra without licence plates drove up to him. A man who got out introduced himself as Islam, said that Umid was his friend, and left a phone number. Then several more people approached, among whom the victim recognised Kurbonali Suponov, known by the nickname 'Gera'. The men tried to force him into an Epica car in the cafe's parking lot. Sh. M. ran away, but was caught: Suponov punched him, and the others kicked him. The victim lost consciousness, was taken to the central hospital of Chirchik, and then interior affairs officers took him to the department building.

Attempt to cover up the case

The material on the beating was being handled by inspector D. R. According to the court, N. A. and D. R. intended to resolve the case for money in favour of those involved in the beating. They told Sh. M. that no lawful measures could be taken against U. B., K. S. and A. R., suggested he drop his claims and demanded $3,000 so that he would withdraw his complaint and not seek proceedings. On 18 February 2026, the officers received $2,700: $1,700 they split between themselves, and $1,000 was given to the victim. Later, the inspector was detained while another $300 was being handed to him. After that, a decision was made to refuse to open a criminal case.

The defendants' position and the court's conclusion

In court, both officers pleaded not guilty. D. R. stated that he did not know about the transfer of money between Sh. M. and the other side. The court concluded that the defendants' guilt was confirmed by witness testimony, phone conversations and other evidence.