Court fines investigator for obstructing lawyer’s work  

The Yakkasaroy District Criminal Court has imposed a fine on an investigator from the Investigation Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan for obstructing a lawyer’s professional activities. The court ruling, issued on January 31, was reviewed by QALAMPIR.UZ.  

The case involved an ongoing investigation into fraud and other charges. On August 20, 2024, a citizen identified as U.F. was detained as a suspect under multiple articles of the Criminal Code, including fraud (Article 168, Part 4, Clause "a"), extortion (Article 165, Part 3), tax evasion (Article 184), and violations of trade regulations (Article 189). He was formally accused the following day and placed under arrest on August 22.  

However, on January 16, 2025, investigator U.Kh., for reasons unknown, made a unilateral decision to exclude lawyer A.A. from the case, despite the lawyer having legally represented U.F. throughout the preliminary investigation.  

When the lawyer requested a copy of the decision on January 21, no response was provided. Frustrated by the lack of transparency, he filed a formal complaint with the district court, arguing that the investigator had violated Article 1971 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, which prohibits obstructing a lawyer’s professional duties.  

During the court hearing, the lawyer presented evidence supporting his claims. Meanwhile, the investigator failed to appear in court despite being officially summoned and did not provide an explanation for his absence. As a result, the court proceeded in his absence.  

The court ruled in favor of the lawyer, determining that the investigator had committed a legal violation. Consequently, investigator U.Kh. was fined twice the base calculation amount, totaling 750,000 sums, to be paid to the state.  

This case highlights ongoing concerns about procedural fairness and due process within Uzbekistan’s law enforcement and judicial systems.