After weeks of searching, lawyers supported by Freedom for Eurasia have successfully located and met with Zhetkerbai Abdramanov. He was found in the pre-trial detention center of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan (SIZO SGB). This discovery follows his transfer to Uzbekistan on December 26, 2024, which was reportedly carried out with the assistance of Russian law enforcement officers and Russian FSB. This transfer directly contradicts the prior decision of the Moscow Prosecutor for Supervision over Compliance with Laws in Air and Water Transport, which stated the following:
An analysis of the extradition request did not allow for the proper qualification of Abdramanov Zh.D.’s actions under Russian law. Consequently, on the same day, an additional request was sent seeking procedural documents to confirm or refute whether Abdramanov Zh.D. is affiliated with any extremist organization. The request also sought the expert conclusion dated September 13, 2023 (No. 29/11908673 267/14754), conducted by the RSE Center named after Kh. Suleymanova under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the expert conclusion from the Forensic Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan dated September 13, 2023 (No. 927).
As of December 18, 2024, at 6:45 a.m., no additional documents have been received by the Russia’s prosecutor’s office.
In light of the above, there are currently no legal grounds for the extradition of Abdramanov Zh.D. or for his continued detention.
A similar decision was made by the Prosecutor of the Oktyabrsky Administrative District of Murmansk on December 25, 2024, when Zhetkerbai Abdramanov was arrested in that city.
Relevant information on Zhetkerbai Abdramanov’s situation in Russia can be found [here].
According to a report provided by the lawyers, Zhetkerbai Abdramanov has been held in the pre-detention center of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan since his arrival. The lawyers noted several procedural violations during his arrest and detention, indicating non-compliance with the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. Specifically:
- Lack of Proper Investigative Procedures: Abdramanov was not interrogated as a suspect or an accused person. Instead, he was only asked to provide a written explanation, during which a state-appointed lawyer was present. However, under the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, legal counsel does not participate in the process of obtaining a written explanation.
- Absence of Judicial Notification: Abdramanov has been in detention for alomst a month and has not yet been provided with a court ruling justifying his arrest. This omission further demonstrates that his detention violates established legal procedures.
Given these legal irregularities, the lawyers are currently preparing formal inquiries to relevant state authorities. These inquiries aim to determine the legal basis for Abdramanov’s arrest, the justification for the apparent procedural violations and demand his release.
