Investigating Custody Deaths and Injuries in Uzbekistan: A Call to Action
Uzbekistan has reported two detainee deaths and a third man unresponsive after police detention. Muhammadkadir Pulatov, 21, died in Almalyk prison, with officials citing a heart attack, while Mustafa Tursynbaev died following a construction accident. Urgent investigations are demanded to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies.
Recent reports from human rights groups highlight a disturbing trend in Uzbekistan involving detainee deaths and serious injuries. Two men have died in custody, while a third remains unresponsive in the hospital after police detention. Ezgulik leader Abdurakhmon Tashanov revealed that 21-year-old Muhammadkadir Pulatov died on February 14, 2025, in Almalyk prison, with authorities attributing his death to a heart attack and acute pancreatitis, a claim contested by his mother, who noted her son’s good health two weeks prior. The Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a pre-investigation into his case.
In a troubling incident captured in a YouTube video on February 16, a young barber was taken into police custody in Samarkand on February 13, allegedly in good health. His mother reported that after attempting to contact him, police informed her to meet her son at the hospital, where he was found unconscious. Law enforcement provided no explanation for his condition.
Furthermore, reports from Vitaliy Ponamarev, a Russian human rights defender, indicate that Mustafa Tursynbaev, an imprisoned blogger from Karakalpakstan, died on February 16 after suffering an accident at a construction site where he was laboring as a prisoner. The Prosecutor General’s Office stated that Tursynbaev succumbed to injuries sustained from a collapsed wall, and an investigation is currently underway.
These alarming incidents highlight the urgent need for the Uzbekistan government to take definitive action. International human rights law mandates effective investigations into all deaths in custody to ascertain causes, identify responsible parties, and ensure accountability. Safeguarding the health and safety of detainees is crucial, particularly to prevent future tragedies.
Should investigations reveal that torture or ill-treatment was a factor in these incidents, the responsible individuals must face justice to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all detainees in Uzbekistan.
The deaths of two men in custody and the unresponsive state of a third detainee underscore severe human rights concerns in Uzbekistan. Prompt and thorough investigations are essential to determine the causes of these incidents, establish accountability, and prevent future occurrences. Upholding international human rights standards is crucial for the treatment of detainees and the integrity of the judicial system in Uzbekistan.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
