Uzbekistan
14/08/2025

Uzbekistan convicts railway workers for sabotage against the “Afrosiyob” train

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Criminal Court of Navbahor District has sentenced two employees of a railway hub to long prison terms for sabotage against the high-speed electric train “Afrosiyob.”

According to law enforcement agencies, in January 2025, an employee of the Bukhara Regional Railway Hub of JSC “Temiryulinfratuzilma,” dissatisfied with being transferred to another position, conspired with a colleague to take revenge on the management.

On the evening of 14 January, the perpetrators placed a 110-kilogram reinforced concrete sleeper on the tracks between the Ziyovuddin and Navoi stations.

Some 15–20 minutes later, the “Tashkent–Bukhara” train, carrying 148 passengers and traveling at a speed of 159 km/h, struck the obstruction. The train sustained significant damage to its running gear, but no passengers were injured.

Officers of the State Security Service in the Navoi region promptly detained the suspects. A criminal case was opened against them under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (“Sabotage”).

The court found the men guilty and sentenced one to 13 years and the other to 12 years in prison. They were also ordered to pay 260 million soums in damages caused to the train.