The Tashkent City Court has concluded the debate stage in the appeal case of entrepreneur Sanjar Karimov, widely known by his nickname 'Real Sanjik'. During the September 28 hearing, Karimov laid out his defense position in detail, challenging the charges against him. He strongly objected to the episode involving the Alimboyev family's house, the legality of searches, and the DNA examination of a coat belonging to his late father.
Karimov stated that he had no intention of seizing the Alimboyev family's house or acting with criminal intent. According to him, the events began in August 2024: on August 6–7, Shahzod Rismatov approached him with a proposal to buy real estate and allocate money for it. Karimov said he had known Rismatov previously but had never known the Alimboyev family. 'The initiative to formalize the house came from Rismatov. I did not know the Alimboyev family,' he said.
The defendant said he went to a notary with $240,000 and the money was given to Rismatov. The house and two cars were formalized as collateral for these funds. 'The house was a guarantee for my money,' Karimov said. According to him, under the agreement, Rismatov was to return the money after 12 days, after which the house was to be re-registered to its previous owners. 'This agreement was also discussed at the notary,' the defendant said. Karimov acknowledged that he knew the Alimboyev family's documents were being formalized as a sale-purchase contract, but he trusted Rismatov's promise to return the house after 12 days.
Karimov rejected the allegation that he planned a joint business with Rismatov in Dubai. 'How could I give my $240,000 and agree to a business where Rismatov, without spending a single sum, would receive half the profit?' he said. According to him, Rismatov later left the country and did not return the money, and the $240,000 was used to pay off his debt to another person, Muallanov. Karimov also said that after Rismatov disappeared, some individuals demanded the return of the cars, and the vehicles were returned to their real owners.
The defendant said he tried several times to return the house to the Alimboyev family. 'After realizing the depth of this family's tragedy, I sacrificed my money, gave myself an account, and voluntarily returned the house. This is confirmed by my actions,' he said. Karimov claims that even after the first trial he tried to reach an agreement with the family, telling the Mirzo Ulugbek district prosecutor's office that he was ready to return the house, but the family said they could not accept it as charity or zakat.
Karimov denied allegations of pressure on the victim, Feruza Rahmatullayeva. 'I have never exerted any pressure or ill treatment on Rahmatullayeva, nor did I intend to. There was also no pressure on her address,' he said. He also addressed the drug-related episode, saying that during the search, in addition to the apartment for which a court sanction had been issued, three other apartments with separate cadastral numbers were entered. 'Contrary to legal requirements, officers entered through a completely different door not indicated in the order and conducted an illegal search in three apartments. The court permission did not apply to them,' Karimov said.
He said that during the search some doors were broken, while others were protected by code and password locks. 'Without offering to ensure voluntary entry, officers broke and smashed locking devices, acting beyond their authority. I have my constitutional rights. Under the law, a verdict cannot be based on assumptions. But my verdict was based on assumptions,' the defendant said. He emphasized that no items indicating preparation for drug sales were found, and checks of phones, computers, bank accounts, and e-wallets revealed no criminal correspondence or financial transactions.
Karimov said the substances found during the search could be related to the treatment of his late father. 'My father was a US citizen. He suffered from severe Parkinson's disease. The doctor officially confirms that he himself wrote the prescription and prescribed medical preparations based on tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabis. This was only to relieve severe tremor and Parkinson's symptoms,' he said. According to him, only about a month passed between his father's death and the search, and he had not managed to collect or inventory the deceased's belongings.
The defendant also objected to the expert conclusion on DNA traces found on the coat. According to him, the initial examination was based mainly on Y-chromosome analysis and concluded a match with his DNA. The defense submitted to the court conclusions from specialists in the US, Russia, and Uzbekistan. According to Karimov, they indicated insufficient genetic markers in the initial examination, a high degree of DNA degradation, and methodological problems in interpreting mixed DNA profiles. 'The coat belonged to my late father. The presence of household contact traces and DNA traces on the coat is explained by a natural life factor. Perhaps one of my family members and I wore it at some point,' Karimov said. He also stated that no drugs were detected in blood and urine tests.
In court, Karimov also spoke about his business activities, saying he is the founder and head of several enterprises and has been engaged in international export-import operations. According to him, he had 1,150 official employees, and now 830 remain. 'Also take into account my public status and media reputation. On social networks I am known under the nickname 'Real Sanjik',' he told the judicial panel. Karimov asked the appellate court first of all to give a legal assessment to the materials obtained as a result of searches without sanctions. According to him, the defense submitted to the court documents obtained from Tashkent State University of Law, the Law Enforcement Academy, the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court. 'A ruling issued for an apartment with a separate cadastre cannot be automatically applied to other apartments,' he said.
After the hearing, Sanjar Karimov answered questions from media representatives. He was asked whether he would stay in Uzbekistan if he were released after the verdict. 'Of course, I will stay. I still have big plans for the future. I have many things started in Uzbekistan. I never even planned to leave Uzbekistan,' he said. 'Therefore, I believe there is justice in Uzbekistan, that the policy pursued by our president is very just. In addition, I ask the chairwoman of the Supreme Court, Robakhon opa [Makhmudova], and all those responsible who are involved in my case and overseeing it, to hand down a fair verdict to me,' he said. Karimov noted that the trial is being watched not only in Uzbekistan but also abroad. 'I want to say one thing: the whole CIS, the whole of America is now watching this trial. The Uzbek diaspora in America, those in Russia… Taking this opportunity, I thank everyone who supports me and wishes me justice. Let us believe in justice,' he said.
The judicial panel postponed the final part of the criminal case — the defendant's last word — to October 7 at 11:00. The panel said it would once again review the written documents and evidence in the case by that time.
Source: www.gazeta.uz