Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov at a press conference on March 28 answered the question of social justice in court sentences for various crimes.
In December 2021, the criminal court of Kitab district of Kashkadarya province sentenced E. Bozorov, deputy chief of medical association and chairman of the commission for recognizing children as disabled, to 5 years in prison. According to the case files, he promised a local resident to help her get a child allowance and asked for 600,000 soums for this. While receiving 500 thousand soums, he was arrested and was convicted under Taking a bribe through extortion charge.
In January 2023, the criminal court of Pakhtaabad district of the Andijan province sentenced the former mayor of Asaka district, Mansurbek Alikhonov, to 3 years and 1 month of house arrest under Theft by misappropriation or embezzlement on an especially large scale, Abuse of power or official authority with causing particularly large damage, Official forgery repeatedly or by a dangerous recidivist and Violation the procedure for granting land, committed repeatedly and resulting in the withdrawal of irrigated land from agricultural circulation of the Criminal Code. The former- mayor filed an appeal against this decision.
The journalist asked the Minister whether the situation when such sentences are passed could result to "intolerance to the courts and legislation in society."
Akbar Tashkulov noted that the sanctions for each crime are determined in accordance with the qualification of the crimes.
“The court works within the framework of sanctions. Even if the crime of bribery is a small amount, it [is] subject to a higher sentence. Imagine, one doctor says that he will not operate until you bring 100,000 soums. The consequences of this are more serious. That is why the laws provide for more severe punishment, as it has greater consequences for society. From this point of view, each article must be correctly understood,” the minister replied.
