Tashkent Pensioner Case Leads to Dismissals and Criminal Charges
Officials were dismissed and a criminal case was opened after a social media video exposed the neglect and possible fraud involving an 86-year-old Tashkent pensioner.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) – The National Social Protection Agency, operating under the President of Uzbekistan, has assumed direct oversight of the case involving Lyudmila Zhuravleva, an 86-year-old resident of the "Habib Abdullaev" makhalla in Tashkent's Mirzo-Ulugbek district.
Following an inquiry, officials deemed responsible have been terminated from their positions, and a criminal investigation has been initiated into potential fraudulent activity concerning the transfer of the pensioner's apartment.
The situation garnered public attention on July 27, 2026, when a young man, who assists with lock-picking, shared videos on social media. In these videos, the elderly woman stated she was confined to her home without food and was fearful of being alone. He subsequently helped open her apartment door and delivered groceries. A neighbor featured in the video corroborated that the pensioner frequently sought assistance and that her refrigerator was consistently empty.
On the same day, the National Social Protection Agency announced it would commence an investigation into the circumstances and evaluate the elderly woman's needs.
The following day, the Mirzo-Ulugbek district khokimiyat issued a statement asserting that the pensioner was officially registered as a solitary elderly citizen, received a pension, legally mandated material assistance, and in-home social and domestic services through the "Step to an Active Life" program.
According to the district administration, certain claims made in the video were unsubstantiated. Specifically, it was confirmed that the apartment had both water and natural gas, and that a social worker had temporarily removed the gas valve for safety reasons. The khokimiyat also maintained that the social worker visited the woman regularly according to a predetermined schedule.
The khokimiyat further explained that due to her declining memory, the pensioner did not always recognize visitors, leading to one set of keys being kept by her and another by the social worker. The district administration also stated that the usage of the woman's bank card was monitored via an electronic platform, in compliance with legal provisions.
On July 31, 2026, the National Social Protection Agency declared the conclusion of its review. The agency determined that the monitoring group of the district "Inson" social services center and the district medical association failed to promptly identify the deterioration of the pensioner's condition and did not ascertain her need for continuous care. Consequently, the implicated officials were dismissed from their roles.
The agency reported that home social and domestic services had been provided to the woman four times weekly since June 11, under a voucher system. An additional medical examination confirmed diagnoses of stage II–III dyscirculatory encephalopathy, cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, and generalized osteochondrosis.
The agency noted that the pensioner's health condition prevents her from independently managing her daily needs and poses a significant risk of harm to herself and others. As a result, she was admitted to a Social Support Center, where she is receiving medical assistance and round-the-clock care. The agency assessed her current condition as stable.
On July 30, 2026, the Prosecutor General's Office disclosed that the pensioner's apartment had been transferred to another individual via a notarized purchase and sale agreement dated September 25, 2025.
To investigate the specifics of this transaction, including the woman's capacity to comprehend her actions at the time of property alienation, and to explore a potential fraud scenario, a criminal case has been initiated under Paragraph "a" of Part 4 of Article 168 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan.