Supreme Court Chief: Detention centers in Uzbekistan overcrowded due to overuse of pretrial detentions, reforms needed

The open meeting included Islamov, President of the Lawyers’ Association Shukhrat Sodiqov, and numerous attorneys. Discussions focused on the obstacles hindering fair legal representation, ways to enhance the role of lawyers in the justice system, and measures to ensure adherence to the principle of adversarial proceedings in court sessions. Islamov acknowledged the importance of safeguarding citizens’ rights and encouraged feedback on the challenges defense attorneys face in court.

The Supreme Court’s press office reported that Islamov criticized judges for a lack of assertiveness, suggesting that judicial hesitation is allowing procedural abuses. He noted that officials often ignore defense requests, with responsibility frequently diverted to lower-ranking staff, while those accountable evade repercussions. “Our judges lack the decisiveness needed to hold the true culprits accountable,” Islamov remarked.

Acknowledging an ongoing shortage of well-trained judges, Islamov highlighted that, while new judicial positions open annually, the current pool lacks the necessary expertise to handle complex cases effectively. He also noted that pretrial detention requests are approved in about 97% of cases, resulting in facilities being filled to capacity — a problem previously observed in 2001.

During the meeting, attorney Bahrom Salomov proposed that prosecution bodies be required to present concrete evidence that the suspect may evade trial or pressure witnesses before pretrial detention is approved, to prevent its overuse.