Case of ex-head of Uzbekneftegaz Sidikov now lists 25 defendants

Among those charged is Mubin Mirzayev, former first deputy chairman of the Tax Committee. According to judicial system records, he is charged under paragraph "a" of Part 3 of Article 167 (embezzlement or misappropriation) and paragraph "a" of Part 2 of Article 209 (official forgery) of the Criminal Code. It is not specified which episodes these charges relate to or what damages he is accused of causing. The list was published in the case file for the hearing scheduled by the Yashnabad District Criminal Court of Tashkent for October 30; Judge Jasurbek Ubaydullayev is presiding.

Mirzayev has already been convicted in another case: on July 27, the Shaykhantakhur District Criminal Court of Tashkent sentenced him to 8 years and 2 months of imprisonment and stripped him of certain rights for three years. According to an earlier report by Gazeta.uz, he was found guilty under Articles 168, 205, and 208 of the Criminal Code (Podrobno.uz and UzDaily cite Articles 167, 205, and 209).

Sidikov himself faces charges under Articles 167, 205, 209, and 243 of the Criminal Code, the latter concerning the legalization of proceeds from crime. The list also includes a former deputy board chairman of the company, the former head of its procurement department, representatives of Enter Engineering and Eriell Management, and other individuals. Several defendants are charged with false entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and other crimes. Why the number of defendants in the court file is higher than officially reported has not been explained.

In July, the Supreme Court reported that five of the nine defendants were in custody, while four had been released on bail. The court has not yet assessed the prosecution's arguments or the defendants' testimonies; until the verdict enters into force, all defendants are presumed innocent.