UN Working Group Says Gulnara Karimova Was Arbitrarily Detained, Uzbekistan Responds

A UN Human Rights Council working group has concluded that Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the former President of Uzbekistan, was deprived of her liberty arbitrarily, reports Orda.kz.

The report on the daughter of the former President of Uzbekistan was published by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. It describes the conditions of Karimova’s detention and the trials against her. The authors cite an anonymous source.

For example, it notes that after being placed under house arrest in 2014 and before trial, the ex-President’s daughter was held in complete isolation. Her 15-year-old son was held with her for a year and a half.

UN experts also point to other violations, including limited access to legal counsel. The report describes the court process as follows:

On August 21, 2015, more than a year after the arrest, Ms. Karimova appeared for the first time before a judge of the Tashkent Regional Criminal Court. The hearing, according to the source, took place in Ms. Karimova’s kitchen in the presence of men in combat gear. 

In the view of the working group members, all these violations may indicate the arbitrary nature of the former President’s daughter’s detention.

The deprivation of liberty of Gulnara Karimova, which is contrary to Articles 3, 8, 9, and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Articles 2, 9, and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary and falls under Categories I and III,  the document states.

It also explains that Category I refers to the absence of legal grounds for detention, and Category III refers to the violation of the right to a fair trial.

The authors of the report, citing their source, describe Karimova’s imprisonment as politically motivated.

Uzbek authorities responded to the UNHRC report with an official reply stating that the investigation and court proceedings against Karimova are being conducted per criminal and criminal-procedural law.

They also deny any political motive. Regarding the kitchen hearing, the response states:

The claims of the alleged arbitrary detention of G. Karimova in 2014, her prolonged house arrest, the existence of a 'kitchen court,' and other such accusations are unfounded. All procedural actions and court hearings were conducted in full compliance with the norms and requirements of procedural legislation. The convicted person currently has the right to appeal court decisions in accordance with the law. 

The investigation into Gulnara Karimova began in 2013. In 2018, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for extortion, tax evasion, and corruption-related offenses. She later received an additional sentence.

In early 2025, it was reported that her conditions of detention had been eased.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin