How Could You? Hall of Shame-Uzbekistan-Foster Mother

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Urgench, Uzbekistan, a foster mother “forced three girls in her care — aged between 15 and 17 — to have sexual contact with the two officials, according to the Nemolchi report. In return, the officials reportedly provided furniture and food to the home.

The report claims the abuse continued for at least 10 months, with the two officials having sexual relations with the minors inside the foster home as well as in an apartment rented by the regional justice department for official business purposes. When they protested, the girls were reportedly beaten, starved, and isolated from other children.

At their first trial, the regional officials admitted having sexual contact with the girls but said it was consensual.

The abuse was eventually uncovered by provincial authorities but not made public at the time. In a trial behind closed doors in September 2022, the foster mother was handed a prison sentence of 5 1/2 years, according to the Uzbek Prosecutor-General’s Office.

The two officials were sentenced to 18 months of “restricted freedom,” a punishment that means they aren’t allowed to leave their homes during the night hours and can’t leave their home region without permission.”

Uzbek Authorities Covered Up The Sexual Abuse Of Teenage Girls In Foster Care
[Radio Free Europe RadioLiberty 4/16/23 by Farangis Najibullah]

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