Why and when was Salim Abduvaliyev imprisoned?

Salim Abduvaliyev, a prominent figure known as "Salimboyvachcha" in Uzbekistan, gained attention as both a sports patron and a notorious criminogenic authority. His legal troubles began in December 2023, when the government's crackdown on crime intensified.  

Abduvaliyev, who until his arrest had been listed as the chairman of the Sports Wrestling Association, was taken from his home in the Fayzabad suburb of Tashkent on December 1, 2023. This was part of the "Urgent 40-day" campaign initiated to address the criminogenic situation in Uzbekistan and combat rising crime, which started in November of that year.  

According to the Department of Internal Affairs, Abduvaliyev, born in 1950, was detained as a suspect under Article 248, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (illegal possession of firearms). Following an investigation, he was found guilty under Part 2 of the same article, which relates to the illegal handling of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and related devices. Abduvaliyev was sentenced to six years in prison, to be served in a general regime colony.  

Alongside Abduvaliyev, two other individuals—Bakhtiyor Kudratullayev, known as “Bakhti Tashkentsky,” and Saidaziz Saidaliyev, referred to as “Saidaziz Medgorodok”—were also detained as part of the same operation. Despite rumors circulating in December that the three men had been released, QALAMPIR.UZ confirmed that their preventive detention status had not been altered.  

On December 22, 2023, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the ongoing "Urgent 40-day" operation, emphasizing its aim to stabilize Uzbekistan's criminal landscape. He remarked on the arrests of criminal groups and influential figures, stressing that lawlessness, whether perpetrated by street gangs or corrupt officials, would not be tolerated in a new Uzbekistan governed by the rule of law.

By January 2025, the involvement of Kyrgyz Deputy Emil Jamgirchiyev in the events surrounding Salim Abduvaliyev, a prominent figure in Uzbekistan’s criminal world, had drawn significant attention.  

Jamgirchiyev, a member of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, was accused of illegally crossing the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. A special commission formed to consider the Prosecutor General’s Office’s request to prosecute Jamgirchiyev was led by Deputy Alisher Erbayev.  

“The commission held several open meetings, with the second part of yesterday's session conducted behind closed doors at the investigation's request. The investigators presented evidence proving Jamgirchiyev’s illegal border crossing. We were convinced by their findings, especially since the Uzbek authorities also initiated a criminal case against him,” said Erbayev.  

On the evening of January 9, 2025, Jamgirchiyev mysteriously disappeared from the Kyrgyz parliament, intensifying the investigation. Reports indicate that Jamgirchiyev had sought assistance from Uzbek criminal authority Salim Abduvaliyev, also known as “Salimboyvachcha,” and that he had crossed the border illegally in December 2022 to hold a secret meeting with him in Tashkent.  

“To conceal his unlawful border crossing, Jamgirchiyev reentered Kyrgyzstan on December 16, 2022, in an illegal manner,” Erbayev stated.  

In response, Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security opened a criminal case against Jamgirchiyev under Article 378 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to illegal border crossings. He has since been placed on the country’s wanted list, and an Uzbek court has issued a warrant for his arrest.  

Kamchibek Tashiyev, head of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, confirmed that investigations had fully established the details of Jamgirchiyev's activities in Uzbekistan.  

The investigation into Kyrgyz Deputy Emil Jamgirchiyev’s involvement in the illegal crossing of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border and his connection to Uzbek criminal figure Salim Abduvaliyev has unfolded dramatically in January 2025.  

Kamchibek Tashiyev, head of the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security, confirmed the details of Jamgirchiyev’s actions in Uzbekistan.

"We found out what Jamgirchiyev did there, who he met with, and what documents he took. All this took a year. We have been working closely with our Uzbek colleagues," Tashiyev explained.  

Tashiyev also revealed that the Uzbek special services have opened a criminal case against Jamgirchiyev for illegally crossing the border. He is now on the wanted list, and a court in Uzbekistan has authorized his detention. However, no official information has been released by Uzbekistan on his arrest.  

“No one specifically pursued Jamgirchiyev. Had he crossed the border legally, no one would have objected. He could have met anyone and returned freely. But this was a violation of the law, and we must respond,” Tashiyev emphasized.

He also noted that as a deputy, Jamgirchiyev should have been aware of the legal requirements.  

“That's why we always stress the importance of hiring deputies with experience and knowledge. Jamgirchiyev took special documents and left for another country. What if these were classified? He must answer for removing documents from parliament and illegally transporting them abroad,” Tashiyev stated.  

Kyrgyz deputies have also approved the criminal prosecution of Jamgirchiyev. During a meeting, 81 deputies participated in the vote, with 69 voting to hold Jamgirchiyev criminally responsible.  

Following Jamgirchiyev’s attempt to meet with Abduvaliyev, rumors began circulating about Abduvaliyev’s influence in Kyrgyzstan.  

On January 10, during a session of the Kyrgyz Jogorku Kenesh, Tashiyev read aloud a letter written by Jamgirchiyev to Abduvaliyev.

“This letter consists of 10 pages, written by Jamgirchiyev himself. In it, he asked Abduvaliyev for help, slandering the authorities and asking for action against them. What kind of foolishness is this?” Tashiyev remarked.  

The letter also claimed that Tashiyev had extorted $180,000 from Jamgirchiyev. Tashiyev responded by revealing that two men had met with Jamgirchiyev’s father, demanding the money. They were later apprehended, and the $180,000 was returned.  

Kyrgyz Deputy Emil Jamgirchiyev’s involvement in illegal border crossing and his ties to Uzbek criminal figure Salim Abduvaliyev have taken a new turn following the revelation of a letter he wrote asking Abduvaliyev for assistance in restoring order in Kyrgyzstan.  

In the letter, Jamgirchiyev appealed to Abduvaliyev, saying, “Dear Salimboy aka, you control all of Central Asia, everyone obeys you. Our Presidents Akayev, Bakiyev, Otunbayeva, Atambayev, Jeenbekov, Japarov always asked for your permission before becoming president. Knowing all this, I also ask for your help.”  

Kamchibek Tashiyev, head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security, condemned the plea. “What kind of shame is this? This is a shame for the whole country. No president has received the blessing of a criminal. He asked for action against me. Jamgirchiyev himself admitted that there was a letter. Imagine, there are such people among the deputies,” Tashiyev stated.  

In response to the allegations, Abduvaliyev insisted that he could not interfere in Kyrgyzstan’s political matters. According to Tashiyev, after learning of Jamgirchiyev's request, Kyrgyz investigators and their Uzbek colleagues interrogated Abduvaliyev. The Uzbek criminal figure confirmed that Jamgirchiyev had asked him to restore order in Kyrgyzstan but stressed that he had no influence over the country's internal affairs.  

Abduvaliyev also claimed that Jamgirchiyev had betrayed his assistant. The assistant testified that Jamgirchiyev had stayed at a hotel for several days but fled without paying the bill.  

Meanwhile, two criminal cases have been opened against Jamgirchiyev in Uzbekistan. The first concerns fraud, and the second involves the illegal crossing of the state border. In Kyrgyzstan, a criminal case has also been initiated under Article 378 of the country's Criminal Code for illegal border crossing.  

The case surrounding Kyrgyz Deputy Emil Jamgirchiyev has raised significant questions, especially regarding the lack of official disclosure in Uzbekistan regarding his alleged illegal border crossing and request for help from Uzbek criminal figure Salim Abduvaliyev. While the news has surfaced through Kyrgyz media, it remains largely unreported in Uzbekistan, raising concerns about transparency and the dissemination of information.  

On January 9, 2025, Jamgirchiyev was scheduled to hold a press conference in the Kyrgyz parliament, but he failed to appear. Shortly afterward, law enforcement agencies arrived at the parliament, and the deputy disappeared. Reports indicate that Jamgirchiyev fled from the second floor of the building and has not been seen since. His current whereabouts remain unclear.  

"I know, our colleague disgraced us all. If I had gone, I would have gone to the President of Uzbekistan. 'Salimboyvachcha' is one of the leaders of an organized criminal group in Uzbekistan. He was recently arrested. All this should be shown in the materials. Why would he turn to organized criminal groups to solve the problem? We strongly supported Emil Jamgirchiyev, but it turned out that he did something wrong. We asked him to come and tell us if everything was wrong. If he was ‘clean,’ he should have come and proved it," said Deputy Suyun Umurzakov.  

It was also revealed that Jamgirchiyev had transported special documents to Uzbekistan. The nature of these documents is still unclear, but this has raised further suspicions about his activities.  

In response to the mounting allegations, Emil Jamgirchiyev was arrested in January 2025. The decision for his arrest was made by the Pervomaysky District Court. He was placed in the pre-trial detention center of the State Committee for National Security, where he was held until February 26, 2025.  

On February 2, the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan decided to prematurely terminate Jamgirchiyev’s powers as a deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh, further complicating his political career.  

By August 2025, Kyrgyzstan had placed Salim Abduvaliyev, who had been imprisoned in Uzbekistan, on its wanted list. This move marked a significant step in Kyrgyzstan's broader operation to "cleanse" the country of individuals connected to the powerful Uzbek businessman and alleged criminal figure.

During ongoing search operations, it was revealed that Abduvaliyev was financially supporting the activities of the Kamchibek Asanbek ("Kolya Kyrgyz") organized criminal group, which is part of the international "Circle of Brothers" criminal syndicate. According to Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security, Abduvaliyev was not only leading criminal organizations within Uzbekistan but also exerted considerable influence across the CIS countries. He established illegal drug trafficking routes to Europe and maintained key connections with Kamchi Kulboyev, often providing material support to the group.

The investigation revealed that Abduvaliyev’s influence reached far beyond Uzbekistan’s borders, particularly in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. His involvement in supporting Asanbek’s criminal activities helped propel Kulboyev to the leadership position within the regional criminal network. The close relationship between “Kolya Kyrgyz” and “Salimboyvachcha” was evident through Kulboyev’s repeated attendance at events hosted by Abduvaliyev, underscoring the depth of their alliance.

As the investigation unfolded, Kyrgyz authorities expanded their efforts to trace Abduvaliyev's movements and connections. The Oktyabr District Court in Bishkek ruled to place a preventive measure on Abduvaliyev in absentia, officially placing him on the wanted list both through the National Central Bureau of Interpol and on an interstate level.

In August 2025, Kyrgyzstan intensified its crackdown on the criminal network of Salim Abduvaliyev, also known as "Salimboyvachcha." Two high-profile figures were arrested in connection to the ongoing investigation, following the leak of videos showing businessman Jalil Atambayev and former deputy and ex-head of the customs service, Salaydin Aydarov, meeting with the leader of the Uzbek criminal underworld.

According to the State Committee for National Security, Atambayev was in close contact with Abduvaliyev to expand his business empire. In exchange for financial support, Atambayev provided Abduvaliyev with protection and patronage. Salaydin Aydarov, another key figure in the case, was implicated as an accomplice in this illicit collaboration.

Earlier in the month, Nurgazi Adirayevich Aydarov, a former Kyrgyz deputy, was also placed on the wanted list as part of the investigation into the financing of organized crime groups. The investigation revealed that Aydarov had been financing members of international criminal organizations, including Abduvaliyev, who is closely linked to “vor v zakone” Kamchi Asanbek (Kamchi Kulboyev). Aydarov had allegedly shown great respect toward Abduvaliyev during his stay in Uzbekistan, with the two men providing mutual support for Aydarov’s business ventures in both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Following the findings, the Oktyabr District Court in Bishkek issued a preventive arrest warrant in absentia for Nurgazi Aydarov. He was subsequently added to both the interstate and Interpol wanted lists.

Meanwhile, in Kyrgyzstan's Kyzyl-Kiya city, another arrest was made. A criminal authority, aligned with Abduvaliyev’s network, was detained. This individual, a 1956-born citizen of Kyrgyzstan, had been involved in Abduvaliyev’s criminal activities and had shown allegiance to the “Salimboyvachcha” group. The man had even posed for a photo with another person, previously detained in Tashkent. He was taken into custody by the State Committee for National Security, where investigations into his ties with Abduvaliyev continue.

In September 2024, another Kyrgyz deputy with ties to Salim Abduvaliyev was identified.

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan interviewed a citizen from the Suzak district—a former deputy of the village assembly—regarding his connections to an organized criminal group.

A preventive interview was conducted with the individual, born in 1984, and he was required to renounce any affiliation with the criminal group. Earlier, a photo of him with "Salimboyvachcha" had appeared on social media.

Following this interview, the individual publicly renounced his criminal ties and declared his support for the planned political direction of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Why was Abduvaliyev released?

January 12, 2025, is a significant date in the timeline concerning Salim Abduvaliyev. After more than a year in prison, Abduvaliyev was released on this date, though no official Uzbek agency has confirmed his release.

According to QALAMPIR.UZ, the 75-year-old Abduvaliyev, who will turn 75 in May, was freed due to illness under Article 75 of the Criminal Code, which allows for release from punishment due to illness or loss of working capacity.

His daughter, Nilufar Abduvaliyeva, also hinted at his release on her Instagram page, posting a photo of her father on January 12.

Thus, the chronology surrounding Salim Abduvaliyev concludes for now, and only time will tell how further developments will unfold.