The Military Court announced the verdict to the former chairman of the State Security Service Ikhtiyor Abdullayev and to the members of “his criminal gang,” the Supreme Court said.

At a closed hearing that lasted more than two months, the defendants were questioned, the testimonies of more than 300 victims and witnesses were heard and examined, the evidence collected by the preliminary investigation body was examined, and the defendants' arguments were thoroughly checked.

The court found Ikhtiyor Abdullayev guilty of organizing a criminal group, taking bribes, entering into deals contrary to the interests of Uzbek state, extorting, stealing other people's property, violating customs laws on an especially large scale in the interests of an organized group and criminal community, and a number of other criminal offenses, by the means of abuse of official powers. For the aggregate of crimes, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

In addition, the court sentenced: the former deputy chairman of the State Security Service, Jakhongir Igamov to 16 years, former adviser to the chairman of the State Security Service Alisher Ishanhodzhaev to 17 years, former deputy prosecutor of Tashkent, Yorkin Abdullaev to 14 years, former deputy head of the Human Resources Department of the Ministry of Justice, Yusufbay Khodjaev to 8 years, the former Deputy Prosecutor General Gairat Khidoyatov – to 5 years, former Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court Bahadir Dekhkanov –to 5 years, former prosecutor of Namangan province Ulugbek Toshev to 5 years of imprisonment, with deprivation of the right to hold official positions for certain periods.

The remaining 15 defendants were also sentenced “taking into account the gravity and public danger of their acts, as well as their role in the committed crimes,” the statement said.

In addition, the court took "appropriate measures aimed at repaying material damage caused by the defendants to both the state interests and the interests of legal entities and individuals."

The Prosecutor General’s Office officially announced the beginning of the investigation of Ikhtiyor Abdullaev in mid-June. The criminal case involved former First Deputy Head of the State Security Service, Jahongir Igamov, former Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan - Chairman of the Judicial Collegium for Administrative Cases Bahadir Dekhkanov and other persons - only about 10 people.

Ikhtiyor Abdullaev in January 2018 assumed the post of head of the NSS, replacing Rustam Inoyatov, who was in charge of the service since 1995. A year later, in February 2019, Ikhtiyor Abdullaev was sacked and arrested.

Earlier, in 2015, he served as the Prosecutor General, and since 2009 - as the State Advisor to the President.

Bakhodir Dekhkanov served as Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court/Chairman of the Judicial Collegium for Administrative Cases since May 2017, and prior that he worked as Deputy Chairman of the Higher Economic Court. He was arrested in February of this year.