Former Agriculture Minister Voitov avoids prison after compensating damages

According to Aziz Obidov, spokesperson for the Supreme Court, the Mirobod District Criminal Court delivered today the verdict in the case against Voitov and others – a total of 62 defendants.

The court ruled that Voitov was guilty of committing crimes under Article 167 (embezzlement or misappropriation) part 3(a), among other provisions of the Criminal Code. Given that the financial damages had been fully compensated, he was sentenced to corrective labor for three years, with 30% of his monthly salary withheld in favor of the state. Additionally, he was fined 400 times the base calculation unit and barred from holding managerial, leadership, or financially responsible positions for three years.

Under Article 167 part 4 of the Criminal Code, if the damages are compensated, custodial sentences are not applied. As such, the funds repaid during the trial were transferred to the state, and Voitov avoided imprisonment.

Khayrullo Karimov, former director of the Agency for Agricultural Services under the Ministry of Agriculture, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison. He was also barred for three years from holding positions involving authority or financial responsibility.

The remaining 60 defendants were sentenced in accordance with their offenses: nine received prison terms, while 51 were given non-custodial penalties.

The parties were informed of their right to appeal or file a cassation complaint with the Tashkent City Court for Criminal Cases within the period set by law.

Background

Voitov served as chairman of Uzsanoatqurilishbank from 2017 to 2020, first Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade from March 2020, and Minister of Agriculture from August 2022 until October 2023, when he resigned. He was arrested in December 2023.

At the time, the Supreme Court press service reported that he was suspected of crimes under Article 167 part 3(a) (embezzlement or misappropriation) and Article 205 part 2(a) (abuse of power resulting in significant damage).

In September 2024, Voitov’s trial began. Journalists were banned from photographing or filming the proceedings. The Anti-Corruption Agency suggested the hearings should be open, but the case was nonetheless heard behind closed doors. Later, Kun.uz reviewed the indictment against Voitov and two others, which stated that embezzled loans, budget funds, and damages to state interests exceeded 200 billion UZS. The indictment also alleged that Voitov carried out these schemes mainly through his university classmates, father-in-law, and close associates.