BUKHARA -- The Military Court of Uzbekistan sentenced five former officials of the then-National Security Service (SNB) in Bukhara Province to lengthy prison terms for committing torture, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported Monday (June 25), quoting an anonymous law enforcement official who was not authorised to speak to media.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's reforms the country's law enforcement and security agencies included renaming the former SNB as the State Security Service (SGB) and firing its long-time chairman in March.
Rustam Azimov, former Bukhara Province chief of the then-SNB, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while four of his subordinates received terms ranging from 16 to 18 years, the source said. The court also sentenced four former prison guards to 18 years' imprisonment each on similar charges.
