How Reliable Are the Reports on Mubashshir Ahmad’s Alleged Serious Crime?
The lawyers of VERUM LAW FIRM represent and defend the legal rights and interests of Alisher Tursunov (Mubashshir Ahmad)—a citizen of Uzbekistan currently residing in Turkey, the founder of the “Azon” projects and the “Azon Global” information-analytical portal, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the "Azon" Foundation for Central Asian Peoples in Turkey.
On February 19, 2025, at the request of the client, the law firm conducted an attorney’s investigation into the legality of the information disseminated on social media regarding him. Based on the client's consent, we hereby disclose the findings of our investigation.
According to documents obtained through attorney inquiries, on August 24, 2023, Alisher Tursunov was charged in absentia under Article 244³, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan—“Illegal preparation, storage, import, or distribution of religious materials for the purpose of dissemination, committed after an administrative penalty for the same act.”
However, false and unsubstantiated claims have been circulated on social media suggesting that A. Tursunov (Mubashshir Ahmad) is accused under Article 244² of the Criminal Code—"Creation, leadership, or participation in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other prohibited organizations"—and that he has been placed on a wanted list.
It is crucial to note that Article 244² and Article 244³ of the Criminal Code are fundamentally different in nature, scope, and level of social danger.
- Article 244³ refers to a minor offense (as per Article 15 of the Criminal Code),
- Article 244², on the other hand, qualifies as a particularly serious crime.
This misrepresentation has led to public concern regarding the nature of the allegations.
Official Legal Status of the Case
According to official documents in our possession:
- The Shaykhantakhur District Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Investigation Unit has initiated a criminal case against Alisher Tursunov under Article 244³ (Illegal preparation, storage, import, or distribution of religious materials).
- The basis for this case was a previous administrative penalty imposed by the Shaykhantakhur District Criminal Court on November 2, 2022, under Article 184² of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Uzbekistan.
- The administrative penalty was not for the content of the religious materials, but rather due to violations of the legal procedure for their preparation, storage, and distribution.
Subsequently, the presence of these materials on the Telegram channel “Mubashshir Ahmad” was used as a basis to open a criminal case against him.
Since A. Tursunov was outside Uzbekistan at that time, he was charged in absentia on August 24, 2023, under Article 244³, placed on a wanted list, and subjected to a preventive measure in the form of a written commitment to good behavior in the event of his detention.
Incorrect Information on Official Portals
Although the criminal charges against A. Tursunov only concern Article 244³, the official my.gov.uz portal erroneously states that he is charged under Article 244² and has been placed on a wanted list.
To clarify this discrepancy, a legal inquiry was sent to the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), Shaykhantakhur District Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
- In a written response dated June 4, 2024, the Shaykhantakhur District DIA confirmed that A. Tursunov is in fact charged under Article 244³, not Article 244².
- Furthermore, the criminal proceedings have been suspended under Article 364, Part 1(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code of Uzbekistan.
Legal Conclusion
From the above, it is evident that:
- The criminal case against Alisher Tursunov (Mubashshir Ahmad) pertains to a minor offense (Article 244³).
- However, social media channels are falsely portraying him as being accused of a particularly serious crime (Article 244²), leading to misinformation and speculative narratives.
Legal and Constitutional Safeguards
According to Article 28 of the Constitution of Uzbekistan,
"A person accused of a crime shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a public court trial in accordance with the law and recognized as guilty by a court verdict that has entered into legal force."
Failure to uphold this principle constitutes a legal violation.
Additionally, claims on social media that merely viewing or sharing “Mubashshir Ahmad” content constitutes a crime are legally unfounded.
- Publicly available content remains lawful unless officially restricted by a court decision.
- The dissemination, storage, or retrieval of such information does not automatically constitute a crime.
Unlawful Double Jeopardy
From a defense perspective, A. Tursunov's case raises concerns about potential double punishment for the same act—first through administrative liability (Article 184² of the Administrative Code), and then through criminal charges (Article 244³ of the Criminal Code).
Given these legal inconsistencies, formal complaints have been submitted to the relevant authorities.