On March 30, a 47-year-old man identified as A.Ch. climbed a tree in front of the Supreme Court building in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to protest judicial decisions in his criminal case. Photos of the incident circulated widely on social media, sparking public debate over protest methods and trust in the legal system in the Central Asian nation.

According to the Supreme Court's press service, after the man was brought down, Chairman Baxtiyor Islomov received him and formally registered his complaint for review through established legal procedures. The court emphasized that such actions as tree-climbing do not contribute to resolving issues, and appeals should be submitted in accordance with statutory procedures.

The man's case stems from a verdict by the Chilanzar District Court on October 5, 2020. He was acquitted under part 3 of Article 184 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion) but sentenced to 7 years in prison under part 3, point "a" of Article 167 (embezzlement). This verdict was upheld by higher courts on appeal, maintaining the original ruling without changes.

In a statement, the Supreme Court noted that citizens' right to judicial protection is guaranteed by law, and they can freely appeal to the court through proper channels. "Therefore, there is no need to resort to unusual or dangerous actions to file an appeal. Such methods do not help resolve the issue; on the contrary, appeals should be submitted in the forms and procedures established by legislation," the statement read. Authorities urged citizens to enhance their legal culture and use lawful mechanisms to protect their rights.

Previously, on November 29, 2025, A.Ch. was received by the Supreme Court chairman, who explained that there were insufficient grounds to alter the judicial decisions. This incident highlights ongoing challenges with public trust in Uzbekistan's judicial system and raises questions about the effectiveness of legal recourse, underscoring societal friction over access to justice and protest expression in the country.

Source: kun.uz