Alisher Turayev, the former deputy minister of agriculture, was found guilty of embezzlement and fraud involving the supply of 1 million grape seedlings valued at about 10 billion UZS. He received a 6-year prison sentence, while his daughter, Anais Turayeva, who worked for the involved company, was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in prison.
On September 5, the Mirzo Ulugbek district court sentenced Alisher Turayev, Anais Turayeva, and Mansur Kuzibekov, the former accountant of the National Center for Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture, according to a court decision reported by Gazeta.uz.
In September 2021, the company De Nova Agro, owned by Turayev’s son, won a 9.95 billion UZS tender to supply 1 million grape seedlings. At the time, the company was managed by his daughter. The tender commission, composed of individuals loyal to Turayev, approved the tender without holding an actual meeting, despite clear conflicts of interest.
The court found that although the contract was signed for 1 million seedlings, only 700,000 were delivered, and multiple false invoices were issued to cover up the missing deliveries. The funds were then misappropriated, with additional falsified documents indicating delivery of seedlings that never occurred.
Turayev partially admitted guilt, acknowledging the delivery of only 700,000 seedlings and defending the legal allocation of funds for seasonal workers and necessary supplies. Turayeva denied all charges, claiming she did not sign the contract and that some seedlings were still in production. Kuzibekov, the accountant, stated he only followed Turayev’s orders and did not benefit from the funds.
The court sentenced Turayev to 6 years in prison under charges of large-scale embezzlement and professional fraud. He was also barred from working in leadership roles within state organizations for 2 years. Kuzibekov received 5 years and 6 months for similar charges. Turayeva was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month; however, the execution of her sentence was postponed until 2027 when her son turns three years old.
Turayev had been appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture in August 2021, after serving as a professor at Tashkent State Agrarian University.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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