Investigation closed: Authorities deny torture after man taken for interrogation dies in custody

On February 25, Kun.uz published an investigative report about the death of Tohir Hayitov, a 50-year-old farmer from Uzun district in Surkhandarya region. He had been taken into custody as part of a murder investigation and was later reported dead, with alleged signs of torture on his body.

According to the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Oliy Majlis, the pre-investigation inquiry into the incident has now been completed.

Authorities stated that the deceased, T. Hayitov, died en route to an administrative detention center in Termez due to a sudden deterioration in his health. Final documents submitted to the Ombudsman indicate that Hayitov died on February 25 at the Sariosiyo district medical association.

The forensic medical examination dated March 17 concluded that Hayitov died from a rupture in the anterior wall of the right ventricle of the heart, due to hypertensive heart disease and pre-existing cardiac sclerosis. This resulted in cardiac tamponade — blood filling the sac surrounding the heart — leading to his death. The report also stated that there were no physical injuries or marks of trauma on the body.

Based on these findings, prosecutors concluded that no criminal activity had occurred. On March 25, they issued a decision to refuse opening a criminal case, citing Article 83, Clause 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In its previous investigation, Kun.uz had reported that Hayitov’s relatives claimed he was taken from his home by police officers as part of urgent operational measures related to a gruesome murder case in Uzun district.

It was also revealed that just a few hours before his death, Hayitov had been sentenced to six days of administrative detention for "petty hooliganism" under a catch-all legal provision. The ruling contained inconsistencies, raising concerns. The Supreme Judicial Council later announced that a disciplinary investigation had been launched against Judge Azamberdi Alikulov, who issued the ruling.

The Council’s press service told Kun.uz that the investigation confirmed the judge had made a “technical error” in the ruling and failed to correct it in time.

“The disciplinary review was discussed at the Surkhandarya regional judges’ qualification board. Due to actions that raised unfounded doubts about the impartiality, independence, and fairness of the court, a fine was imposed as a disciplinary measure on the district court’s investigative judge,” the statement read.

In addition, in February of this year, two inmates died in Penal Colonies No. 7 and No. 14 in Tashkent Region. These incidents are currently under investigation by the Ombudsman and the Tashkent Special Prosecutor’s Office.