The key facts

  • Bekzod Bahtimurdov, a figure in the Global avto case, was arrested only on 22 September 2026 — almost a year after the case was opened on 12 November 2025
  • Interior Ministry press secretary Shohruh Giyasov said the March arrest did not happen 'due to pressure from the victims and their lawyers,' and accused Kun.uz of one-sided coverage
  • According to investigators, the damage in the Global avto case amounted to about 11 billion soums, of which more than 5 billion remains uncompensated

A year of freedom after the case was opened

The Tashkent car dealership 'Drive avenue' (LLC) took advance payments from citizens for cars it promised to bring from China, but failed to fulfill its obligations. Kun.uz conducted an investigation and established that Bekzod Bahtimurdov — the central figure in the previously investigated 'Global avto' case — likely stood behind this scheme. A criminal case against him under Article 168, Part 4, point 'a' of the Criminal Code (fraud on an especially large scale) was opened on 12 November 2025, which was confirmed by Interior Ministry press secretary Shohruh Giyasov himself. Nevertheless, Bahtimurdov remained free until 22 September 2026 and, according to the investigation, during that time deceived many more citizens.

The Interior Ministry's explanation and its contradictions

Shohruh Giyasov called the Kun.uz investigation one-sided and stated in a personal reaction: 'In March he was supposed to be arrested, but under pressure from the victims and their lawyers, so that they would get their money back, he was left free, and when that brought no benefit, he was arrested in September.' He added that all actions were procedurally documented and that the case is multi-episode, which is why the investigation has lasted about nine months and may continue. At the same time, in response to an official request from the journalist sent to him during preparation of the material, Giyasov had previously answered differently: he reported only that a pre-trial detention measure had been chosen for the suspect and left unanswered the question of the arrest date. The head of the press service of the capital's city police department, at a meeting with journalists, explained the length of the investigation by the appointment of documentary checks, questioning of victims, and confrontations. Two investigators involved in the case, at a meeting at the editorial office, confirmed the validity of the material's critical remarks, but could not cite a legal basis for Bahtimurdov remaining free.

What the norms say and what remains unclear

Kun.uz notes that the Criminal Procedure Code does not provide for pressure from victims as an independent legal ground for refusing pre-trial detention: Article 236 allows the application of a preventive measure, among other things, to prevent new criminal activity, and Article 242 permits arrest under Article 168 Part 4 'a,' which carries eight to ten years of imprisonment. As a general rule, the preliminary investigation must be completed within three months, with extensions to five or seven months, and the outlet considers the grounds for suspension under Article 364 (unidentified person, unknown whereabouts, departure from the country, serious illness, an immunity request) inapplicable in this situation. The Interior Ministry and the Tashkent city police department did not disclose whether the investigation was suspended and on what basis. According to the lead investigator, the damage in the Global avto case amounted to about 11 billion soums, of which more than 5 billion remains uncompensated. Giyasov emphasized that 'all actions were within procedural frameworks,' but did not specify which ones; Kun.uz states its readiness to publish the Interior Ministry's explanations.