The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan has postponed the consideration of the complaint in the revision procedure until January 23, 2025. According to lawyer Davron Saidov, a member of the Board of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the court must consider the legality of the administrative arrest of seven citizens who are part of the entourage of businessman Komil Ismoilovich Allamjonov.

Recall that on October 26, 2024, seven people, including security guards, drivers, and other employees of Allamjonov, were brought to administrative responsibility for petty hooliganism and failure to comply with the legal requirements of law enforcement officers. The administrative offense reports drawn up by the district police officer state that these individuals allegedly violated public order near the Argin Tabaka cafe in Kibray district.

“My clients were not at the scene of the alleged offense. We have provided evidence, including video recordings and witness statements, that confirm this”, Mr. Davron Saidov said.

The lawyer noted that the administrative case may be related to attempts to put pressure on Allamjonov’s entourage as part of the investigation into the assassination attempt committed on the night of October 25-26.

“My clients were summoned to give explanations and were at the disposal of the operational investigative group throughout the day on October 26. However, after returning home in the evening, they were summoned again to the Kibray District Department of Internal Affairs and required to sign certain documents. When they refused, they were taken to court without the opportunity to defend themselves fully”, Mr. Saidov said.

He also spoke about the established practice where restrictions on meetings with lawyers and pressure on detainees have become commonplace. “Such actions contradict both our national legislation and international norms”, ​​he emphasized.

The defense refers to Article 271 of the Administrative Responsibility Code, which excludes proceedings in the case in the absence of an administrative offense. The violation of Uzbekistan’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is also emphasized.

“Arbitrary detention and holding of innocent citizens under administrative arrest with violation of their fundamental rights is a form of pressure that must be qualified in the context of Article 7 of the International Covenant, according to which no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”, the lawyer explained.

Mr. Saidov filed a petition to summon the district police officer who drew up the administrative offense reports to explain his actions in court. Appeals have also been filed with the Prosecutor General’s Office with a request to assess the actions of law enforcement officers.

“We demand a legal assessment not only of the drawing up of reports, but also of the methods of work, which include unjustified pressure on citizens and ignoring their constitutional rights”, the lawyer emphasized.

Attention is drawn to systemic problems, including restricting lawyers’ access to their clients.

“A chapter dedicated to the legal profession has appeared in the Constitution of Uzbekistan. This is an outstanding achievement, but it is time to apply these norms in reality. Lawyers must be able to defend their clients without hindrance”, Mr. Saidov said.

In addition, the lawyer noted that the lack of access to clients and the violation of the right to a fair trial, coupled with administrative pressure, create preconditions for arbitrariness:

“When lawyers are deprived of the opportunity to meet with their clients, this opens the way to violations we observed in this case”.

The case hearing in the Supreme Court has been rescheduled for January 23, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

“We expect that the court will objectively consider the case and eliminate the violations committed at previous stages”, Mr. Saidov concluded.

UzA