Eleven charged over mass kindergarten poisoning in Tashkent region

The incident occurred in September last year in several districts of the region, where state-run kindergartens operating under an outsourcing-based catering system reported cases of food poisoning among children. A criminal investigation was launched shortly after the incidents were recorded.

According to Kun.uz sources, the investigation has now been completed and the case has been forwarded to court with an indictment. This information was also confirmed by the spokesperson for the Prosecutor General’s Office.

During the investigation, the legal representatives of all 1,922 children officially recorded as poisoned were questioned and recognized as victims and civil plaintiffs.

Forensic medical, food safety, chemical, technical and complex examinations were conducted, and their conclusions were added to the case materials.

Investigators charged 11 individuals under Article 186, Part 4, Clause “b” of the Criminal Code – production, storage, transportation or sale of goods, performance of work or provision of services that do not meet safety requirements with intent to distribute, as well as under Article 257-1, Part 1, violation of sanitary legislation or anti-epidemic rules.

As a preventive measure, 10 of the accused were placed in pre-trial detention, while one was placed under house arrest.

The detention period of the accused and the overall investigation timeline were extended for five months, until February 25, 2026, with the approval of the Tashkent Regional Prosecutor.

The indictment was drafted between January 28 and February 2. On February 10, the Tashkent Regional Prosecutor’s Office approved the indictment and sent the case to court.

According to the investigation materials, between September 24 and 27, 2025, children sought medical assistance in the following locations:

• Buka district – 540 children
• Almalyk city – 287 children
• Piskent district – 529 children
• Akkurgan district – 469 children
• Nurafshan city – 113 children
• Kuyichirchik district – 64 children
• Bekabad district – 110 children

Of the total 2,112 children who sought medical care, poisoning was confirmed in 1,922 cases, while the remaining 190 were diagnosed with other conditions.