One of the stories about how the Sharifhodzhaev brothers
dealt with entrepreneurs
In late August we received a few reports of death of
the former owner of a retail chain "Comfort-Elites" Najmiddin
Abdujabbarov, born in 1977.
Not so long ago, they used to speak of him as a young
successful entrepreneur and there was nothing to foretell the signs of trouble.
The business was run by three of the Abdujabbarov brothers. They established a
business of imports from the best manufacturers of furniture.
The JV «KOMFORT LTD» is a network of six outlets in
various parts of Tashkent. This business has grown rapidly, but not primarily
because of the shortage of furniture or the monopoly in the market. The
business growth was ensured by protection of high-ranking officials close to
the family of dictator Islam Karimov. Influential people in law enforcement
agencies also helped. It was said that the Abdujabbarovs are almost always able
to negotiate with the government officials. But it turned out that this is not
true.
In 2011 Najmiddin Abdujabbarov was suddenly arrested,
his shops were sealed, goods confiscated. A trial took place; Najmiddin, his
older brother and a chief accountant by the name of Aziz (we could not find out
his last name) were arrested. All were charged with violation of financial rules.
It seems that they were sentenced for long terms. One of the brothers managed
to escape by going abroad.
According to our sources, majority of persons
convicted in this criminal case were subjected to torture and ill-treatment
during the investigation. The investigation was conducted in violation of due
process, including the procedures for appeal. The investigating authorities,
Prosecutor's Office and the Court knew that Najmiddin Abdujabbarov suffered
from a fatal disease. But he was sentenced to a long term imprisonment and sent
to the prison colony of general regime UY 64/32 in the Pap district of Namangan
region. It contains more than 3,500 prisoners. In this colony, he contracted
tuberculosis. He was then sent to the Zarafshan regional prison for TB
patients, and from there to Tashkent Prison (Tash-Turma). In 2013, he was
released for health reasons.
Soon, Najmiddin Abdujabbarov found the strength to
start the procedure of appeal. He tried to get his confiscated property back.
Abdujabbarov was very surprised to find out that some of the documents
transferred their business, and they were signed by him. When could Abdujabbarov
have done it? He could not remember, say people close to him. As Abdujabbarov
acknowledged, he remembers little of what happened to him in the detention centre
of Uzbek National Security Service located in Krasnogvardeyskaya Street.
According to different sources, the officers are known
for usage of psychotropic substances and torture. In the past persons linked to
terrorism were kept at the detention centre of the National Security Services.
But, since the Sharishkhodjaev brothers came here, many other entrepreneurs,
including foreign investors, had to walk the corridors of the National Security
Services.
The Sharifhodzhaev brothers invented a property appropriation
machine and ruined successful enterprises with foreign capital or private
equity in Uzbek. According to the accounts of our applicants, they were forced under
torture to assign their property. If they refused, their property was
confiscated by a Court order, and then auctioned off to the instigators. The Sharifhodzhaev
brothers participated in ruining of many large businesses. Now in Uzbekistan they
control almost all of the big business, through officials or leaders of the
criminal world, such as Nizam Jumayev whose popular nickname is "Executioner
№1».
Our attempts to find out who owns "Comfort
Elite" now did not return a definite answer. Most likely, the new owners
are legally considered to be bona fide purchasers. The robbed entrepreneurs are
unable to protect their own interests, as in the case of the owners of
"Comfort Elite". Najmiddin
Abdujabbarov died, his brother is in the Zhaslyk prison, and it seems for many
years. Another brother is on the run, and certainly more concerned with how to
keep his family and the family of brothers.
That is what happens to those who are not able to
reach an agreement with Hayot and Jawdat Sharifhodzhaevys. They become victims
of repression organised by the brothers.
Hayot Sharifhodzhaev became widely known after his
victorious march during the Andijan massacre. Soon his career quickly took off.
On the day of celebration of the 16th anniversary of independence ofUzbekistan, Islam Karimov awarded him the Order of "Shon Sharaf» of IIdegree.
His appointment to the post of the First Deputy Chairman of the National
Security Service responsible for fighting economic crimes assured Hayot
Sharifhodzhaev of his impunity more. He works hand in hand with his sibling
Jawdat, who oversaw the Department for Fighting against Corruption and Organised
Crime of the National Security Service of Uzbekistan. In 2009, in celebrationof the 18th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence Jawdat Sharifhodzhaev wasawarded the order of "Shon-Sharaf» of II degree.
For some time the brothers served Gulnara, the eldest
daughter of dictator Islam Karimov. Sharifhodzhaevys’ victims include investors
from Turkey, Russia, Uzbek citizens with property abroad, such as the Baltic
States or Dubai (UAE). They ruined the people and hid them behind bars for many
years.
Weaning of successful business has become typical in
Uzbekistan. Greedy "law enforcement officers" turn the successful
entrepreneurs into "criminals". It is a proven practice in the
country, led by the corrupt. The fate of many of the victims is similar to Abdujabbarov’s
fate. The owner of the market, "Bek Barraka" is subjected to the same
practice, although he was a former employee of the Prosecutor's Office and
enjoyed the support of the Karimov family, through one of his daughters. For
the time being, he is managing to avoid arrest, but it is unlikely he will be
able to keep his property.
The so-called helpers of Gulnara Karimova, Lola
Karimova-Tillaevoy, and Tillaev are touring Europe and the United States. In
the relevant embassies they are issued a visa as the household staff of the
presidential family. All these persons are handpicked by the National Security
Services. They are really trusted not only by the daughters, but also by their
mother, Tatyana Karimova, a very powerful woman in Uzbekistan. All of their
affiliates have several foreign passports. One of these people has a residence
permit of the United States, he moved his family there. In the interests of the
investigation we are withholding the personal data for now.
There is evidence that two months ago, the household
personnel of the Karimovs family was warned that it was time to leave the
country. This suggests that all the "revelations" of criminal groups
headed by Rustam Madumarov and Gayane Avakian and the Sharifhodzhaev brothers
was just destruction. And a reference made to "G. Karimova" in a
press release of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan on 8 September
2014 was just an attempt to appease the disgruntled and critics of the regime.
The actively spreading rumours about the resignation
the Sharifhodzhaevs brothers are not yet officially confirmed. Apparently,
bargaining is still on-going. But no doubt torture of businessmen in the
basement of the National Security Service does not stop. No one is reviewing
the cases of entrepreneurs convicted by the Sharifhodzhaeves brothers. History
of Gulnara Karimova is full of surprises and all the more mysterious, but it
has a little effect on the position of the family. Islam Karimov remains in
power.
It is clear that under the current regime the law
enforcement system will remain completely opaque. And first of all, that is
because its representatives, in their pursuit of their personal interests,
cleverly conceal evidence of those crimes, and receive high government awards
for doing so.
Nadejda Atayeva
