The key facts

  • The cassation court overturned part of the verdict of 21 September 2026 and issued a new guilty verdict
  • Director Sh.T. received 4 years, technologist R.A. — 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment
  • The convicted had earlier been released in the courtroom, which drew public attention

Appeal court changes verdict in case of poisoning of 105 children

The cassation instance reviewed the criminal case against officials of Garden Catering Trade LLC involved in the mass poisoning of children in kindergartens in Fergana. As reported by the information service of the courts of Fergana region, the cassation court overturned part of the verdict of the Furkat district criminal court dated 21 September 2026 against LLC director Sh.T. and technologist R.A. and issued a new guilty verdict: the director was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment, and the technologist to 3 years and 6 months, under Articles 59 and 61 of the Criminal Code.

What changed compared to the September decision

The significance of the new decision is evident when compared with the previous outcome of the case. Under the verdict of 21 September 2026, the convicted persons were sentenced to corrective labour and restriction of liberty, and they were released from custody right in the courtroom — Kun.uz previously reported this. In addition to poisoning the children, the court found them guilty of theft, embezzleption or misappropriation through abuse of trust, and forgery of documents. At the time, the press service of the courts of Fergana region issued an official statement explaining that the punishment was imposedwithin the sanction established by law, and that the court took into account the defendants' sincere remorse, the absence of prior convictions, full compensation of damages to the victims, and statements by the children's legal representatives that they had no claims.

Context of the incident

The incident itself occurred on 20 February 2026, when a mass poisoning of children took place in several state kindergartens in Fergana — according to Kun.uz, there were 105 victims after eating at the kindergarten. The cassation review became the first change to the final decision in the case of the food supplier's officials: the lenient September punishment was replaced with real prison terms.