Three female officials are arrested in connection with the Antistrumin case 

In September of this year, hundreds of children in Namangan, Andijan regions, and the capital Tashkent were admitted to hospitals with symptoms of poisoning after consuming the iodine drug distributed to kindergartens and schools. According to QALAMPIR.UZ, three medical workers were arrested in connection with this issue.

According to the document at the editor's disposal, on November 6 of this year, the deputy director of the Republican Specialized Endocrinology Scientific and Practical Medical Center for treatment, F.Kh. (woman), and the head of the center's laboratory, senior researcher N.A. (woman), were arrested under Article 221 (Grounds for Detention) of the Criminal Procedure Code (JPK). Also, on November 15, H.G., who worked as the head of the Ministry of Health's Department for Regulation of Medicines, Medical Supplies, and Equipment and Coordinating Medical Assistance, now a senior technical consultant in the PQM project of the Pharmacopoeia of the USSR, was arrested under Article 227 of the Criminal Code (detention based on the decision of the investigator, investigator, or prosecutor).

In connection with this issue, the Yashnabad district court on criminal cases of the city of Tashkent satisfied the request of the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan to apply precautionary measures in the form of arresting the suspects. According to the court decision, the suspects were arrested and placed in the investigative detention center of the first regional area of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, known as "Tashturma."

Now let us pay attention to the information provided in the document

 A total of 2,980 schoolchildren and foster children in the republic were poisoned on September 20-22. As a result of the court's decision to apply preventive measures in the form of imprisonment, the daily amount of the drug "Antistrumin" 1000 mcg (micrograms) was set several times higher for children. After that, there was a lack of trust in the government, including the healthcare system among the population. It was said that 60.5 million soums were spent from the state budget for the treatment of children, causing serious damage to the interests of the state and citizens protected by law.

"F.X., N.A., X.G." In connection with the implementation of the decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated July 26, 2021, "On measures to further improve the quality of medical care provided to the population," the Republic of Uzbekistan will provide free iodine to pregnant women and children aged 3-15. Knowing that according to the order of the Minister of Health on November 30, 2021, and the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the optimal daily dose of potassium iodine is 90, 120, 150 mcg (depending on the age of the children). Using her official authority and abusing it in 2022 and 2023, Chief Endocrinologist F.Kh. submitted the technical assignment and need tables for the purchase of 0.001 g (1000 micrograms) potassium iodine medicine for children aged 3-15 years (woman) and others, and obtained approval by Elmira Basitkhanova, Deputy Minister of Health," as stated in the court ruling.

According to the document, a joint instruction was approved by the Ministry of Health and the Minister of Preschool and School Education on August 28, 2023. In it, once a week, 500 mcg of potassium iodine is given to children aged 3-6 and 1000 mcg to schoolchildren aged 7-15 without scientific justification.

On the basis of this unscientific document, on September 13, 2023, Elmira Basitkhanova, the deputy of the Ministry of Health, publicly distributed "Antistrumin" 1000 mcg of the daily dose to all children throughout the Republic on September 20, 2023. As a result, on September 20-22, a total of 2,980 students and foster children were poisoned by the drug "Antistrumin" 1000 mcg.

As a result of the purchase of "Antistrumin" medicine for 11.5 billion soums, 11.5 billion soums were stolen from the state budget by means of embezzlement.

According to the document, on November 6 of this year, N.A., X.G., and in relation to F.X., Article 167 (Expropriation or embezzlement by way of fraud), part 3, paragraph "a", Article 205 (Abuse of power or official authority), part 2 "a" of the Criminal Code " clause is involved as a suspect in part 1 of article 257-1 (violation of sanitary legislation or anti-epidemic regulations).

Also, in the motion submitted by the Deputy Prosecutor General, the suspects have committed a serious crime, and there is a possibility of escaping from the investigation and judicial authorities if they are found out. They can hide or destroy evidence, continue their criminal activities, and isolate witnesses. Taking into account the fact that they are trying to speak, they were asked to apply preventive measures in the form of imprisonment. The court, having studied the reasons given in the petition and the documents attached to it, granted the petition, and the suspects were imprisoned.

Antistrumin Case

Starting from September 20 of this year, the free distribution of iodine preparations began every Wednesday in all schools and pre-school educational organizations. The relevant decision of the President was signed and announced by the Ministry of Preschool and School Education on September 15. However, the implementation of the decision, which was carried out in just 5 days, resulted in mass poisoning of school and kindergarten children aged 3 to 15 years. In Namangan, 71 children were poisoned by iodine. A similar situation occurred in Tashkent city and Andijan region. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health recognized only the case in Namangan as iodine poisoning.

Concerning the situation in Namangan, a criminal case was initiated under Article 257-1 of the Criminal Code (violation of sanitary legislation or the rules of combating the epidemic).

At that time, an assistant minister tried to influence the activities of the mass media by instructing journalists who aimed to cover the issue in detail and conduct inquiries not to "go deeper" and not to answer questions. The Ministry stated that such an assignment was not given by the Presidential Administration. The speaker, who introduced himself as a deputy minister, was not clarified regarding his position in the ministry, how he is related to the ministry, and who gave him the right to speak in this manner or what measures were taken to counter the spread of false information.

Meanwhile, it was reported on social networks that "UZMEDIMPEKS" LLC, founded by the Ministry of Health, signed a direct contract with "Samo" LLC for a total of 21 billion soums in exchange for the supply of the "Antistrumin" iodine drug. A photo of the supporting documents was released.

According to the document, in June 2022, the organization founded by SSV entered into a direct contract of 5 billion 644 million soums with "Samo" LLC for the purchase of the drug potassium iodide 1 mg (0.001 g) #100 (Antistrumin). A valid contract was made. On January 11, 2023, an additional agreement of 956 million soums was added to this contract.

On May 4, 2023, "UZMEDIMPEKS" LLC concluded a direct contract with "Samo" LLC for the purchase of this drug for 15 billion 275 million soums. According to these contracts, "Samo" LLC will supply "Antistrumin" in the amount of 3,550,000 for a total of 21 billion 875 million soums.

According to information, no tender was held for the purchase of the "Antistrumin" drug; contracts were concluded directly.

The official website of the US Immigration and Customs Service published information about the search for the head of "Samo" LLC. According to it, Nadir Yunusov, the founder of the LLC that won the multi-billion-dollar tender of the Ministry of Health for the supply of the drug "Antistrumin" to schools and kindergartens, is an organization subject to charges of human trafficking, forced labor, fraud, and corruption.

The press service of the Center for the Safety of Pharmaceutical Products of the Ministry of Health made a statement about this situation. It was reported that the Pharmaceutical Activity Licensing Department of the "Pharmaceutical Products Safety Center" under the Ministry of Health is investigating the activities of "Samo" LLC, which produced the drug "Antistrumin.