Prosecutor General's Office responded to claim of Amnesty International on torture against Kadirov

The Prosecutor General’s Office commented on the appeal by Amnesty International on the use of physical violence and ill-treatment against ex-Prosecutor General Rashitjon Kadirov, as well as that other defendants are still at high risk of torture.

In a statement of the Prosecutor General’s Office, it is indicated that from the very beginning of the investigation, Kadirov was granted the right to defense, lawyer’s participation in all investigative actions, and possibility of visiting him in private without any restrictions.

“Considering the age of Rashitjon Kadirov and other defendants, during the preliminary investigation, their health status was under constant supervision of medical institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. During the case consideration in court, medical support is also carried out and a separate special vehicle equipped with all necessary medical equipment is provided,” the statement reads.

“In the course of the investigation, a forensic medical examination was carried out, according to the conclusion that Kadirov’s health condition does not prevent his detention and no injuries were found,” the chief prosecuting body stressed.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, lawyer A. Madyarov, acting on the basis of a legal assistance contract concluded with the law office “Shcheglov and partners” in Moscow, applied for measures to ensure his participation as a lawyer in the criminal case against Kadirov only on July 18, 2018.

It is noted that Kadirov, in the presence of Madyarov, on his own initiative refused his services. He said that he was not pressurized physically or psychologically, he testified voluntarily. Kadirov also noted that his right is represented by another lawyer and he does not need to bring in an additional lawyer.

“During the investigation, R. Kadirov partially accepted his guilt, which indicates that he was given an opportunity to freely express his opinion on the charges and the lack of evidence that any pressure was used against him to extract confessions,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

Currently, the criminal case against him is being considered by the court.

Kadyrov, 67, who led the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan for 15 years, was arrested at the end of February 2018. He was charged with “extortion”, “abuse of power or official authority” and “receiving a bribe”.

The trial on Rashid Kadyrov’s case has begun on January 7, 2019 at the Yunusabad district court on criminal proceedings in the city of Tashkent. The process on the case of the ex-Prosecutor General takes place in a closed mode.