Supreme Court explains early release of ex–Toshshahartansxizmat head convicted of embezzlement

In February this year, the first-instance court found Anvar Juraev and his deputy guilty under Article 167 of the Criminal Code for embezzling state assets and sentenced them to 7.5 years of imprisonment.

On 5 June, the appellate court reviewed the case involving Juraev and 19 other individuals. The court ruled to amend the original verdict, commuting the prison sentences of Juraev and Azizov to restricted freedom. Both were released from custody in the courtroom.

Aziz Obidov, spokesperson for the Supreme Court, issued a statement to address public discussions surrounding the appellate court’s decision.

According to Obidov, the first-instance court had found Juraev and 20 employees of the organization’s bus depots guilty of embezzlement. In addition to the main sentence, they were ordered to pay over UZS 2.475 billion in damages. Two properties owned by the defendants were to be used to cover the losses.

The Supreme Court clarified that during the appellate trial, the full amount of damage caused by the defendants was repaid.

“It should be noted that part 4 of Article 167 of the Criminal Code states that if the material damage has been fully compensated, penalties such as imprisonment or restricted freedom may not be applied,” the explanation reads.

Therefore, the 5 June 2025 decision of the appellate court replaced the prison sentences with alternative penalties not involving incarceration, and the funds previously deposited in a special account were transferred to the state budget. Additionally, two properties acquired through criminal means and used to cover the damage were confiscated in favor of the state.

The Supreme Court also stated that parties dissatisfied with the ruling have the right to file a complaint or lodge a protest with the Tashkent City Court for supervisory review, in accordance with Article 510 of the Criminal Procedure Code.