Tragedy of 2024: Murders between relatives and acquaintances

In 2023, Uzbekistan was recognized as the safest country in the world, ranking first in the "Security Perceptions Index" (SPI). This global survey, assessing safety through factors such as violence levels, food and water security, workplace safety, and overall psychological well-being, revealed that Uzbekistan had the lowest risk level at just 0.072 percent.  

However, as 2024 comes to an end, this year has brought its share of unsettling and heartbreaking events, some of which call for not only public outcry but also deep societal introspection. Among them, one case stands out as particularly heinous—the brutal murder of a 3-year-old child that shocked the nation and revealed a dark side to interpersonal violence within families.  

Tragic murder of a 3-year-old child

The most horrifying crime of 2024 occurred in the early hours of July 9 in the Yashnabad district of Tashkent. A 31-year-old man committed an unthinkable act of violence against a 3-year-old child.  

This tragedy unfolded in a household where the man was living with a woman outside of legal marriage. The child was the son of the woman from her first marriage. On that fateful night, the man overheard the woman talking to another man on the phone. Consumed by jealousy and rage, he turned his anger towards the innocent child.  

While the mother was briefly on the porch, the man approached the child with a "butterfly" folding knife. What followed was an act of barbarity:  

- The child was stabbed multiple times in the left eye, eyebrow, eyelid, chin, temple, nose, and right forehead.  
- The knife pierced the base of the eye socket and caused injuries to the cerebral hemisphere.  
- The attack was carried out with extreme cruelty, ensuring the child's death.  

This act of inhuman violence left an indelible scar on the nation’s conscience.  

The case was brought to trial on November 29 in the Mirzo Ulugbek District Court for Criminal Cases. The prosecutor demanded a life sentence for the defendant, emphasizing the brutality of the crime.  

According to the court's verdict, the defendant was found guilty under multiple articles of the Uzbek Criminal Code:  
- Article 97, Part 2, Subparagraphs “c” and “j” (Murder with extreme cruelty).  
- Article 25 and Article 97, Part 2, Subparagraphs “b”, “d”, “j”, and “r” (Attempted murder and related aggravating circumstances).  
- Article 219, Part 2 (Resisting authority).  
- Article 251-1, Part 3 (Illegal possession of weapons).  

He was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment under Article 59 of the Criminal Code.  

As per Article 50, Part 9, the sentence was structured as follows:  
- The first 4 years would be served in a standard prison facility.  
- The remaining years would be served in strict regime colonies.  

While the verdict brought some measure of justice, the crime itself underscored deeper societal issues that demand urgent attention.  

Relative who killed 5 members of a family

July proved to be a month of sorrow for Uzbekistan, as another horrific crime occurred shortly after the brutal murder of a 3-year-old child. On July 26, at 06:19 AM, a devastating incident unfolded in the Yangiyul district of the Tashkent region. Due to a personal disagreement over debt, a man set fire to his relative's house, resulting in a tragedy that claimed the lives of five people, including three children.  

Firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Department quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze. However, their inspection of the home revealed the horrifying extent of the crime. The bodies of the following family members were found, all bearing various injuries:  
- A man born in 1991.  
- His wife born in 1999.  
- Their children, born in 2021 and 2022.  
- Their niece, born in 2018.  

The 29-year-old suspect was apprehended the following day. During his confession, he admitted to committing the crime due to a debt-related dispute. After a four-month investigation, the case proceeded to court.  

Initially, the defendant faced charges under Article 97 of the Criminal Code (Murder). However, as the investigation progressed, additional charges were brought against him, including:  
- Article 118, Part 1 (Indecent assault).  
- Article 134 (Desecration of a grave).  
- Article 164 (Invasion).  
- Article 173, Part 3, Subparagraphs “c” and “d,” and Part 2, Subparagraph “b” (Intentional destruction or damage to property).  

The trial concluded on November 28 in the Tashkent Regional Criminal Court. The defendant was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to life imprisonment under Article 59 of the Criminal Code. He was ordered to serve his sentence in a special regime colony.  

Aunt who is a murder of her 7-year-old niece

Another case of shocking cruelty occurred earlier in the year, in the spring, when an aunt from the village of Cholobod, in the Buka district of the Tashkent region, was responsible for the tragic death of her 7-year-old niece.  

The tragedy unfolded when a couple from Zafar, Bekabad district, entrusted their two daughters to the care of the wife’s sister and left for Russia to work. While under the aunt's care, the children endured daily physical abuse and mistreatment.  

On the night of March 12, at around 1:00 AM, the aunt accused the youngest girl, born in 2017, of lying and failing to prepare for school. In a fit of rage, the woman brutally beat the child with her hands and a wooden stick, causing severe bodily injuries.  

The girl was rushed to the Buka District Central Medical Institution. However, despite intensive care, she succumbed to her injuries on March 15. Her final words were heart-wrenching: "Tell my mother that I love her, and don't let her leave us and go to Russia." Tragically, her parents, working abroad, could not even attend the funeral.  

The case was opened under Article 104 of the Criminal Code (Intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm). On March 13, the woman was arrested, and her trial followed shortly after.  

Despite the egregious nature of the crime, the court sentenced the aunt to only 5 years in prison, a punishment many deemed inadequate for such a cruel act.  

Son who is a murder of his mother

This tragic event is not the only murder committed by individuals in the Surkhandarya region. A 27-year-old man, after being refused money by his mother to buy alcohol, returned home drunk and became involved in a heated argument. In a fit of rage, he fatally attacked his mother with an axe. The court sentenced him to 18 years in prison for the murder.

Brother who is a murder of his sister

Imagine the horror of being assaulted by a sibling, let alone killed by one. This unimaginable tragedy unfolded in the Surkhandarya region, where a 16-year-old boy brutally murdered his 18-year-old sister. Accusing her of dating young men, the teenager struck his sister multiple times with a stick and metal object, causing severe injuries that led to her death. The incident occurred on August 11, and a criminal case was opened against the brother under Part 1 of Article 97 of the Criminal Code (Intentional Murder). He was detained under Article 221 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Father who is a murder of his son

In yet another heart-wrenching case, a 72-year-old father in the Tashobod neighborhood of Fergana region fatally stabbed his 41-year-old son during a quarrel. The father, in a moment of anger, grabbed a kitchen knife and struck his son in the chest, piercing his heart. Despite attempts to save him, the son succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit. The Oltiariq district prosecutor's office opened a criminal case against the father on September 2, charging him with intentional murder.

Man beats his wife and mother-in-law to death with an iron

In the Andijan region, a man killed both his wife and mother-in-law in a violent outburst on August 1. Following a family dispute, the man attacked the two women with an iron object, inflicting fatal injuries. The mother-in-law died at the scene, while the wife passed away in the hospital. A criminal case has been filed under Article 97, Part 2, Clause "a" of the Criminal Code for intentional murder.

Woman kills guest and buries her in the yard in Khorezm

Have you ever heard the Uzbek proverb, "A guest is as great as your father"? In Khorezm, a woman defied this saying in the most shocking way. She killed a guest who had come to her home and buried her in the yard.

On April 17 of this year, a 38-year-old woman from the "Hamjihatlik" neighborhood in Urgench city invited a 49-year-old acquaintance to her home. The two women had known each other previously. However, during their visit, a dispute over money escalated into violence. In a fit of rage, the hostess strangled the guest with a scarf, then buried the body deep in her yard. This disturbing case reflects a troubling trend—many of the murders this year have been committed by family members or acquaintances, not strangers. Is there any reason, no matter how trivial, that justifies taking another person’s life?

Earlier in this video, we reported that Uzbekistan was recognized as the most peaceful country in the world in 2023, due to its low levels of violence and danger. But how will this reflect on the country’s ranking this year, in light of the recent murders? Do you think it will maintain its position? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Stay tuned to QALAMPIR.UZ for more updates.