Young sisters rescued from abusive guardian in Samarkand region

Two sisters, aged 7 and 9, have been rescued from an abusive environment in Taylak district of Samarkand region. The children had been left under the care of a legal guardian a year ago after their mother traveled to Turkey for employment. However, the guardian is alleged to have subjected the girls to consistent physical and mental abuse.

The girls, born in 2017 and 2019, were reportedly insulted, pressured, and forced to perform manual labor, such as scrubbing floors. Disturbing evidence has emerged indicating that the guardian, identified as S. Mardonova, filmed the children while they were crying and being subjected to pressure. Physical examinations revealed visible bruising on the girls' arms, confirming the extent of the mistreatment.

Murod Egamov, a branch head at the "Inson" Social Services Center, stated that the socio-psychological state of children under guardianship is typically monitored on a quarterly basis. He noted that while a routine check in the first quarter of 2026 had shown no negative indicators, the situation escalated recently. Following a report of the abuse on April 22, social services and internal affairs officers acted immediately to remove the sisters from the home.

The children have since been placed in a family-run children’s home within the district. The older sister has been enrolled in a local school, while the younger sister is currently receiving intensive psychological assistance. Psychologist Zarina Kobilova noted that the younger girl is suffering from severe fear and is finding it difficult to communicate due to the prolonged lack of a healthy family environment. Experts emphasize that recovering from such psychological trauma will require significant time, care, and attention.

Sanobar Latipova, the head of the family-run children’s home, stated that she has welcomed the sisters into her household and is committed to providing them with the affection and support they were previously denied.

The Taylak District Internal Affairs Department has initiated a pre-investigation probe into the matter. A forensic medical examination has been ordered to determine the severity of the physical injuries sustained by the children. Furthermore, video footage recovered from Mardonova’s mobile phone, which depicts the abuse, has been officially processed as material evidence. The case remains under the direct supervision of the Child Ombudsman.