Photo: Kun.uz
The Senate of Uzbekistan has taken control of the investigation into the case of the school principal who was detained and publicly humiliated in the Furqat District of the Fergana Region. The upper chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) announced this through its press service.
The incident occurred on April 17 of this year. According to Kun.uz, Gulirano Kosimova, the principal of School No. 29 in the Furqat District, had gone to the office of district tax chief Kurbonali Abdurakhmonov to ask for financial assistance for her husband’s second surgery after a car accident. At that moment, officers from the district police department (ROVD), dressed in civilian clothes, burst into the office, beat both Kosimova and Abdurakhmonov, stripped them naked, and filmed them. The officers then tried to force Kosimova to sign a statement accusing Abdurakhmonov of sexual coercion. She refused, despite the beatings and threats to tell her husband about an alleged affair.
It was later revealed that the incident had been a premeditated provocation organized by Furqat District police chief Akmal Khodjayev, who was in conflict with Abdurakhmonov. Khodjayev used Kosimova’s visit as a pretext to stage an “arrest” and fabricate a case of sexual misconduct.
After the assault, Kosimova fell into a deep depression, but following treatment decided to fight for justice and made the case public. She stated that police officers had offered her up to $50,000 for her silence and later threatened her young children when she refused. Nevertheless, she continued to demand that all those involved be held accountable.
In June, a criminal case was opened. Its main defendants are now former Furqat District police chief Akmal Khodjayev and his deputy Jasur Rasulov. They have been charged under several articles of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, including violation of privacy (Article 141-1, Part 2), disclosure of information damaging honor and dignity (Article 141-3, Part 2), abuse of authority (Article 206, Part 1), and falsification of operational-investigative materials (Article 230-2, Part 1).
Khodjayev and Rasulov were initially taken into custody but later released on bail of 15 million soums (about $1,200). The investigation has now been completed, and the case has been sent to court.
Key evidence in the case includes security camera footage proving that Kosimova and Abdurakhmonov did not engage in any intimate activity; instead, they were subjected to physical and psychological violence by the officers. The video shows Kosimova being forced to undress and Abdurakhmonov being beaten. The records also show that the report of the “arrest” was filed at 5:21 p.m., even though Kosimova had been brought to the police station at 4:58 p.m., and the duty officer allegedly received the call at 5:00 p.m.—evidence of falsified documents.
Meanwhile, Rasulov and several other officers involved in the incident have kept their positions and were released from criminal liability. Kosimova insists that all participants in the crime must be punished.
The Fergana Regional Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Kun.uz that the investigation is ongoing.
The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson Feruza Eshmatova) also addressed the case: “The Ombudsperson strongly condemns any inhumane actions and demands a thorough, complete, and impartial investigation of all those involved,” reads the statement on the ombudsperson’s website.
The Senate Committee on Defense and Security declared its “uncompromising stance toward any violations of the law” and placed the case under “special supervision to ensure that lawful decisions are made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies.”
