The former director of the Uzbekistan State Assets Management Agency, Akmalhon Ortikov, has appeared in court on criminal charges. He is accused under several articles related to embezzlement or misappropriation, abuse of official authority, and official forgery. Five other individuals are also being tried alongside him.
WHAT ARE THE CHARGES
According to Gazeta.uz, the criminal case is being heard by the Mirabad District Criminal Court. Information about the scheduling of the court hearing was published in the list of cases set for consideration.
According to the case materials, Akmalhon Ortikov is charged under paragraphs “a”, “c” and “d” of Part 3 of Article 167 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (“Embezzlement or misappropriation committed on an especially large scale, by an organised group or in its interests, using computer technology”), paragraphs “a” and “b” of Part 2 of Article 206 (“Exceeding authority or official powers causing especially large-scale damage and in the interests of an organised group”), as well as Part 1 and paragraphs “a” and “b” of Part 2 of Article 209 (“Official forgery”).
On the charges brought against him, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE CASE
Alongside Akmalhon Ortikov, the following individuals have appeared in court: the head of Smart Expert Group, Ziyoviddin Jabbarov; the founder and director of the valuation company Veritas, Zuhriddin Nigmanhanov; the founder of the valuation company Master Expert, Ravshan Khalitkariev; Saidjon Saidov; and the head of the valuation company Kontinent Imkon Baho, Shermatjon Juraev.
All five are accused of embezzlement or misappropriation and official forgery. Additionally, Jabbarov, Khalitkariev and Juraev have also been charged under Article 192-11 of the Criminal Code, which provides for liability for abuse of authority by officials of non-state commercial or other non-state organisations.
WHAT LED TO THE CASE
Akmalhon Ortikov was dismissed from his post as head of the State Assets Management Agency in January 2026. He was subsequently placed in custody.
As reported by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, violations were identified in the management of state assets within the agency. According to the Head of State, agency officials put up for a closed auction a land plot with a market value of at least 250 billion soums and sold it for 120 billion soums. The President subsequently ordered a review of the responsibility of employees overseeing the activities of the agency and a number of other state structures.
