Uzbekistan Sentences 10 Over Allamjonov Assassination Attempt

A military court in Uzbekistan has sentenced ten individuals to prison terms ranging from seven to 23 years for their roles in an attempted assassination of Komil Allamjonov, a former presidential press secretary, in October 2024. The attack raised suspicions of a power struggle within the Uzbek government, especially following the dismissal of several high-ranking officials shortly after the incident. The convicted included senior security service personnel, but the motives behind the attack remain unclear, and the case has drawn international attention due to allegations of politically motivated prosecutions and concerns about due process. Critics, including legal experts, have condemned the verdicts as lacking credible evidence and have raised issues of torture against one of the defendants. Additionally, the case has implicated two Russian nationals, leading to an arrest warrant issued by Uzbek authorities, although Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has denied any involvement. Observers are calling for increased scrutiny of Uzbekistan's judicial processes amidst these developments.