The reason why the officials involved in pedophilia were not sent to prison was disclosed

Previously, it was revealed that former officials who engaged in sexual activities with girls from an orphanage in Khorezm were not sent to prison but to penal colonies, despite conflicting information provided to the public.

Specifically, Abdurahmon Tashanov, the chairman of "Ezgulik" human rights society of Uzbekistan, raised concerns on Facebook, seeking clarification on this matter. The Tashkent city courts issued an official response to his inquiry.

It is pointed out that according to the Criminal Code in effect at the time of the crime, both O.M. and A.Q. were found guilty under Article 128, Part 1 (engaging in sexual intercourse with a person under sixteen), punishable by up to 3 years, and Article 128-1 (providing material assets to a person aged sixteen to eighteen or engaging in sexual intercourse with them), punishable by up to 2 years of imprisonment. These crimes are classified as low social risk offenses under Article 15 of the Criminal Code.

Thus, O.M. and A.Q. were sentenced under the provisions of Article 128, Part 1, and Article 128-1 of the Criminal Code in effect at the time.

Furthermore, Article 50 of the Criminal Code mandates that those convicted of low social risk offenses serve their sentences in penal colonies.

As a result, the placement of O.M. and the transfer of A.Q. to penal colonies were determined to execute their sentences.

"According to the ruling of the Tashkent city court's appellate body on criminal cases dated November 3, 2023, O.M. was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment, and A.Q. is currently serving his sentence in penal colonies located in the Samarkand region.

To recap, in April, three girls from the House of Mercy orphanage in Khorezm were detained for 10 months by O.M., the head of the regional Justice Department, and A.Q., the Head of the Emergency Situations Department of Yangariq district, who were known to have forcibly brought them. They were sentenced by the Khiva district court to 1.5 years of imprisonment. Additionally, the head of the orphanage, who facilitated the situation, received a sentence of 5 and a half years. The three defendants appealed the verdict to the Khorezm regional court, but the appellate court upheld the sentence.”