Tashkent, Uzbekistan — A troubling case of retaliation against whistleblowers and their legal defenders is unfolding in Uzbekistan, raising serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the government’s commitment to meaningful reform.
On May 24, prominent Tashkent-based lawyer Allan Pashkovskiy published a video address to the President, Prosecutor General, and Chairman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, revealing unlawful interference in justice, the use of torture, and his own professional persecution. Asiaterra has published a full account of Pashkovskiy’s statement. Pashkovskiy, a veteran defense attorney with nearly 15 years of experience was sanctioned for his efforts to expose fabricated charges and defend whistleblower and former State Security Service (SSS) officer Valijon Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov had uncovered and reported a large-scale corruption scheme within this government agency. Instead of initiating an investigation, authorities arrested him in February 2024. He was held incommunicado and subjected to torture. Despite credible allegations and witness testimonies, courts refused to authorize independent forensic examinations.
Following Rakhmanov’s trial and appeal, Pashkovskiy and his co-counsel Vladimir Nikitin were accused of violating “professional ethics”. Their licenses were suspended for four months in a disciplinary process that denied both lawyers access to case materials and the right to a fair hearing. Contrary to regulations, the whole process was based not on a court ruling, but informal letters sent by the presiding judge after the Rakhmanov’s case had concluded.
The situation has escalated further with a new criminal case brought against Rakhmanov for allegedly disclosing “state secrets” to his wife, who had submitted corruption evidence to the General Prosecutor’s Office and shared parts of it on social media.
Uzbekistan has made formal efforts to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms and promote whistleblower protections. The 2017 Law “On Combating Corruption” remains the core legislative framework. Under Article 26 of the law state employees are legally obligated to report any known or attempted acts of corruption to their supervisors or law enforcement authorities. At the same time, Article 28 explicitly requires the state to protect whistleblowers and their close relatives, including by ensuring confidentiality and taking necessary security measures in cases of credible threats. In 2020, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev established the Anti-Corruption Agency and introduced a mandatory e-procurement platform to enhance transparency. In early 2024, the Anti-Corruption Agency published a draft law “On the Protection of Persons Reporting Corruption Offenses,” promising guarantees such as protection from retaliation, legal assistance, and anonymity. However, more than a year since its introduction, the draft law remains unadopted. The IMF has urged Uzbekistan’s authorities to expedite the adoption of laws on asset declaration and whistleblower protection, according to the concluding statement of its 2025 consultation mission. This delay, combined with Rakhmanov’s and his legal team persecution, raises serious doubt on the state’s political will to combat corruption and protect those who expose it.
Freedom for Eurasia views this as part of a growing pattern of targeting legal professionals and whistleblowers who expose abuse of power and corruption. These actions highlight an alarming rollback of legal safeguards and go against the promises made by the current administration also reflected in country’s fall in the 2024 Global Rule of Law Index, dropping five places to rank 83rd out of 142 countries. Freedom for Eurasia calls on national and international legal associations, UN special rapporteurs, and human rights organizations to monitor the situation closely, urge accountability, and demand the protection of those who defend justice and transparency.
