The sentence of the former judge has been softened

The Supreme Court of Tajikistan has reduced the prison sentence of convicted judge Rustam Saidakhmadzoda by one and a half years.

Rustam Saidakhmadzoda, a former judge of the Bobojon Gafurov District Court in the Sughd region, who became known for his acquittal verdict, was detained in the summer of 2022 and charged with “knowingly false reporting of a crime,” “illegal sentencing,” “abuse of office,” and “fraud.” He was later sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.

Rustam Saidakhmadzoda himself rejected all charges and requested his release.

According to Radio Ozodi, citing its sources, the Supreme Court partially granted the appeal of judge Rustam Saidakhmadzoda at the end of last week, reducing his sentence from 6.5 to 5 years.

It is still unknown whether Rustam Saidakhmadzoda intends to file another appeal.

Rustam Saidakhmadzoda was appointed as a judge of the Bobojon Gafurov District Court in the Sughd region in 2017. In 2021, it became known that the judge had issued an acquittal verdict regarding a resident of the Sughd region. Courts in Tajikistan rarely issue acquittal verdicts.

Even after the verdict was issued, the judicial panel of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan accused Saidakhmadzoda of violating labor discipline. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) urged the authorities of Tajikistan not to exert pressure on judges.