Uzbekistan detains human rights activist Javokhir Muminov after he alleges police torture and links bailiffs to abuse of local resident Djura Akbarov
KARSHI, Uzbekistan — Uzbek authorities have detained Javokhir Muminov, a prominent human rights activist and member of the Ezgulik Human Rights Society, on charges of “extortion on an especially large scale,” according to his legal team and Human Rights Watch. Muminov, 34, told his lawyer on June 10 that police officers beat and suffocated him with a plastic bag during custody, allegations his lawyer has documented in two formal complaints to prosecutors that remain unaddressed. The arrest follows Muminov’s efforts to support Djura Akbarov, a local resident whose arm was broken by bailiffs in January 2025 during a confrontation over unpaid alimony.
The case has drawn international scrutiny, with Human Rights Watch calling the detention “arbitrary” and urging Uzbekistan to release Muminov immediately. “The authorities should investigate his allegations of ill-treatment and ensure he receives urgent medical care,” said Mihra Rittmann, the organization’s senior Central Asia adviser. “This pattern mirrors past abuses in Uzbekistan, where activists are targeted for defending rights.”
Why was Muminov arrested, and what are the charges?
Muminov was arrested on June 5 alongside Akbarov and his wife, Sanobar Borotova, after two bailiffs from the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement filed a complaint accusing them of attempting to extort 220 million Uzbek soum (about $18,000). The bailiffs claimed Akbarov’s wife had received 50 million soum (around $4,100) from one of them on the same day—funds the bailiff said were intended to cover Akbarov’s medical expenses from injuries sustained in January 2025, when the bailiffs allegedly broke his arm during an enforcement action.
Akbarov’s legal team disputes the extortion claim, arguing the payment was a humanitarian gesture. In a January 15, 2026, video posted on Telegram, Akbarov directly accused senior police officials of shielding the bailiffs from accountability, stating that only the junior officer had been prosecuted for the assault. A Koson district court later convicted that officer of “intentional infliction of moderate bodily injury” and sentenced him to two years of restricted freedom—a decision Human Rights Watch describes as insufficient given the severity of Akbarov’s injuries.
How does this case reflect broader patterns of repression?
The arrests come amid a crackdown on civil society in Uzbekistan, where authorities have increasingly targeted activists documenting rights abuses. Muminov, who operates a Telegram channel exposing corruption and police brutality in Kashkadarya region, had previously assisted Akbarov in filing complaints against the bailiffs. His detention follows a 2023 law tightening restrictions on non-governmental organizations, which critics say has stifled independent monitoring.
International observers note parallels with past cases, such as the 2021 detention of human rights defender Bobomurod Abdullaev, who was accused of “fraud” after documenting police abuses. Abdullaev was released in 2023 after a global campaign, but his case highlighted how Uzbekistan uses legal proceedings to silence dissent. “The pattern is clear: activists who challenge state actors face baseless charges while the abusers they expose remain unpunished,” said Rittmann.
What are the risks for Muminov in detention?
Muminov’s legal team reports that conditions in the Karshi pretrial detention center are hazardous. On June 10, his lawyer, Lazizjon Sharipov, was barred from bringing a phone into the meeting area—a violation of Uzbek law—and was physically assaulted by officers when he refused. Sharipov left without meeting Muminov but later filed a complaint with the Karshi Prosecutor’s Office. His colleague, who did meet Muminov, confirmed the activist’s allegations of suffocation and beatings, adding that prosecutors have taken no action to investigate.
Human Rights Watch warns that Muminov’s prolonged detention—now over two weeks without charges—violates Uzbekistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention. “Detaining someone for months on unproven charges, especially when the allegations are tied to their human rights work, is a clear violation of international law,” said Rittmann.
What happens next, and who is pushing for his release?
Uzbekistan’s international partners, including the European Union and the UK, have not publicly commented on the case, though diplomats have privately raised concerns about the treatment of activists. Human Rights Watch is calling for immediate release and an independent investigation into Muminov’s torture allegations. The organization also demands that Uzbekistan’s Prosecutor General’s Office address the complaints filed by Sharipov and Muminov’s legal team.
As of June 18, Muminov remains in detention, with no court date set. His case underscores the risks faced by Uzbek activists who document abuses, particularly when their work intersects with state enforcement actions. The lack of response from Uzbek authorities to the torture allegations suggests a pattern of impunity for police misconduct, while activists like Muminov bear the consequences.
