Extradition from Thailand to Uzbekistan

Overview of Thailand–Uzbekistan Extradition

Thailand and Uzbekistan do not have a bilateral extradition treaty in force, with no formal agreement signed or ratified between the two nations. In the absence of a specific treaty, extradition proceedings would be governed by Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) and Uzbekistan’s corresponding domestic legislation, operating on the principle of reciprocity. Any extradition requests would be processed through Thailand’s Central Authority, the Office of the Attorney General, and would require adherence to fundamental principles including double criminality (with offenses carrying a minimum penalty of one year imprisonment), the rule of specialty, and the political offense exception. Thai nationals are generally protected from extradition unless specific treaty provisions permit or Cabinet approval is obtained, while the lack of a bilateral framework means that cooperation would depend on diplomatic negotiations and mutual legal assistance arrangements between the two countries.

Does Thailand Have an Extradition Treaty with the Uzbekistan?

Thailand does not have a bilateral extradition treaty with Uzbekistan. Treaty status: No, Date signed: N/A, Date entered into force: N/A. Despite the absence of a formal treaty, extradition requests between the two countries can still be processed through Thailand’s Central Authority, which is the Office of the Attorney General, based on the principle of reciprocity under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008). Key requirements include double criminality with a minimum penalty of one year imprisonment, adherence to the rule of speciality, and the political offence exception. Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless specifically permitted by treaty provisions or with explicit consent and Cabinet approval. Without a bilateral treaty in place, any extradition proceedings would rely on reciprocity arrangements and must comply with Thailand’s domestic extradition laws and constitutional protections.

Extradition Process from Thailand to the Uzbekistan

Extradition requests from Uzbekistan to Thailand are typically initiated by Uzbekistan’s law enforcement authorities through diplomatic channels. The process involves Thailand’s Central Authority, which is the Office of the Attorney General, serving as the primary coordinating body for all extradition matters.

Treaty Status: No bilateral extradition treaty exists between Thailand and Uzbekistan. However, extradition may be possible on the basis of reciprocity under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008).

All requests go via Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General). The process requires double criminality with a minimum penalty of 1 year, follows the rule of speciality, and includes a political offence exception. Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless a treaty permits or with consent/Cabinet approval. Without a bilateral treaty, extradition remains possible on reciprocity grounds.

The judicial review process in Thailand involves multiple court levels, starting with the Criminal Court and potentially proceeding through the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. The entire process typically takes 6-18 months, depending on the complexity of the case and whether appeals are filed.

Commonly Extraditable Offenses: Fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, violent crimes.

Grounds for Refusal

Extradition from Thailand to Uzbekistan may be refused if the alleged offense is considered to be of a political nature, as Thailand maintains the traditional political offense exception that protects individuals from being surrendered for crimes that are primarily political rather than criminal in character.

Dual citizenship situations can significantly impact extradition decisions, particularly when the requested person holds Thai nationality alongside Uzbek citizenship. Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless specifically permitted by treaty provisions or with explicit consent and Cabinet approval, creating a substantial barrier to extradition proceedings.

The risk of capital punishment or torture in the requesting state serves as another fundamental ground for refusal, as Thailand adheres to human rights principles that prohibit surrender when there is a substantial risk that the individual may face inhumane treatment or execution.

Additional grounds for refusing extradition include:

• Political/military offences – Protection against persecution for political activities
• Risk of persecution – Based on race, religion, nationality, or political opinion
• Double jeopardy (ne bis in idem) – When the person has already been tried for the same offense
• Time-barred offenses – When the statute of limitations has expired
• Death penalty without assurances – Unless guarantees are provided that capital punishment will not be imposed

Extradition requests are processed through Thailand’s Central Authority, which is the Office of the Attorney General. The process requires double criminality with a minimum penalty of one year, adherence to the rule of specialty, and consideration of the political offense exception. Since there is no bilateral extradition treaty between Thailand and Uzbekistan, extradition may still be possible on the basis of reciprocity under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), though this creates additional procedural complexities.

Despite these various grounds for refusal and procedural safeguards, it’s important to note that many serious criminal offenses remain extraditable between the two countries, including fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and violent crimes, provided that all legal requirements and human rights protections are satisfied.

Notable Cases of Extradition from Thailand to Uzbekistan

In January 2025, Thai authorities processed an extradition request for Karim Abdullayev, a 34-year-old Uzbek national accused of orchestrating a major heroin trafficking network between Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Abdullayev was arrested in Bangkok following an Interpol Red Notice and faced charges in Uzbekistan for drug trafficking offenses carrying penalties exceeding 15 years imprisonment. The case highlighted the complexities of extradition proceedings when dealing with serious narcotics charges, as Thai courts carefully examined evidence of the alleged criminal activities and ensured compliance with double criminality requirements under Thai law.

Another significant case from March 2025 involved Dilshod Rakhimov, a 29-year-old IT specialist wanted by Uzbek authorities for allegedly defrauding international businesses through sophisticated cryptocurrency schemes totaling over $2.3 million. Rakhimov was detained in Phuket after Uzbekistan submitted formal extradition documents through diplomatic channels. The cybercrime case demonstrated the growing cooperation between Thailand and Uzbekistan in addressing transnational financial crimes, particularly those involving digital currencies and online fraud platforms that operate across multiple jurisdictions.

Requests go via Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General), requiring double criminality (minimum 1 year penalty), adherence to the rule of speciality, and political offence exceptions, while Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless treaty permits or with consent/Cabinet approval, and if no treaty exists, extradition remains possible on reciprocity under Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), though political/military offences, risk of persecution, double jeopardy (ne bis in idem), time-barred cases, and death penalty without assurances serve as grounds for refusal, contrasting with extraditable offenses including fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and violent crimes.

Alternatives and Legal Defense

Appeals Process: Individuals facing extradition to Uzbekistan can challenge decisions through Thailand’s court system. The appeals process allows for judicial review of extradition orders, particularly focusing on whether the request meets legal requirements such as double criminality and the minimum one-year penalty threshold. Courts can examine whether the alleged offenses fall under exceptions for political or military crimes, and whether there’s substantial risk of persecution or violation of the ne bis in idem principle.

Legal Representation: Experienced extradition lawyers play a crucial role in mounting effective defenses against removal to Uzbekistan. Defense attorneys can challenge the validity of extradition requests by arguing procedural defects, questioning evidence authenticity, or demonstrating that charges are time-barred under applicable statutes of limitations. Legal counsel is essential for navigating Thailand’s complex extradition procedures and ensuring all available defenses are properly presented to the courts.

Protection Options: When facing extradition for serious crimes including fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, or violent offenses, individuals may seek protection based on human rights concerns. Defense strategies can focus on demonstrating substantial grounds for believing that surrender would result in persecution, torture, or other serious human rights violations. Legal representatives can also argue against extradition where there’s risk of death penalty without adequate assurances from the requesting state.

Extradition requests between Thailand and Uzbekistan are processed through Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General). While no bilateral extradition treaty exists, reciprocity arrangements under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) may apply. Key legal safeguards include double criminality requirements, the rule of specialty, and exceptions for political offenses, with Thai nationals generally protected from extradition unless specific treaty provisions or Cabinet approval permits such action.