Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry says Dubai court handed life sentences, not death penalties, to Uzbek nationals

In an official statement, the ministry said that nine citizens of Uzbekistan were prosecuted following their involvement in a large-scale fight in Dubai in April 2025. According to the ruling delivered by a Dubai court on January 21, eight of the defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while one individual received a 25-year prison term.

The ministry acknowledged that information previously circulated, and confirmed by a source within the ministry, stating that six Uzbek citizens had been sentenced to death was incorrect.

“On January 21, a court in Dubai sentenced eight citizens of Uzbekistan who participated in a mass fight in April 2025 to life imprisonment. Another citizen was sentenced to 25 years in prison,” the Foreign Ministry’s press service said in a statement.

It added that Uzbek diplomatic missions and relevant authorities are continuing to closely monitor the case and are taking all necessary measures to ensure the protection of the rights and legal interests of the convicted citizens.