Allegations of torture behind closed doors: the case of Nozimjon Abdullaev

The case of former government official Nozimjon Abdullaev once again raises the problem of torture in Uzbekistan’s law enforcement system. In a recent report, Radio Ozodlik spoke with Bakhodir Abdullaev, Abdullaev’s father, who saw signs of torture and unhealed wounds on his son, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence.

Who is Nozimjon Abdullaev and why is his case important?

Nozimjon Abdullaev, a former official in Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environment, and Climate Change, was arrested on January 24, 2025. Prior to his arrest, he served as head of the State Inspection Department and had previously worked in several government agencies, including in the tourism sector. In June 2025, a closed trial of the Military Criminal Court in Tashkent found Abdullaev guilty of several articles of the Criminal Code, including “treason” and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Nozimjon Abdullaev was held for six months in the State Security Service’s (SSS) detention center in Tashkent, popularly known as “Gvardeysky.” Abdullaev told his farther that during his detention in the “isolator” (interrogation cell), he was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, including beatings