Ravshan Kosimov
Additional Name(s): Равшан Қосимов, Равшан Косимов
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Treason & Sedition Violating Prison Rules
Ravshan Kosimov
Extra Bio Info:
Ravshan Kosimov was imprisoned for his religious identity and activity.
In 2008, security services arrested Kosimov, a soldier who studied on an exchange program at the U.S. military academy West Point, and tortured him while interrogating him on allegations of “religious extremism.” According to Kosimov's mother, Malika Kosimova, security services singled him out because he was an observant Muslim who kept a copy of the Qur’an in his possessions. Kosimov was reportedly charged at first with “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC) but later was instead charged with treason (Art. 157 UCC).
On an unspecified date, Kosimov was sentenced to prison. The exact length of the sentence was unspecified, but the sources indicate his imprisonment expires in 2023. Sources also report that authorities have manufactured various “violations of prison rules” on numerous occasions to render Kosimov ineligible for amnesty or release.
In December 2023, it was reported that Kosimov had been released after completing his sentence.