Ikram Yakubov
Ikram Yakubov is a former intelligence officer of Uzbekistan, in the SNB, who defected to the United Kingdom in 2009.[1] He is notable because, after his defection, he confirmed earlier reports that Uzbekistan routinely tortured captives.[2][3]
Early life
Yakubov's father and grandfather were senior KGB officers in the old Soviet Union, and Yakubov described hoping to become an intelligence officer himself, when he was child.[2]
Intelligence career
Yakubov describes being a trusted deputy of Uzbekistan's President, Islam Karimov—until an intelligence report he wrote offended him.[2] At that point he described being tortured himself, and then being demoted.[1]
Since his defection Yakubov has said he was present during brutal interrogations, including immersion in scalding hot water.[2]
However, there are doubts whether Yakubov's claims about being close to President Karimov or his ranking in the Uzbek KGB deserve to be taken seriously. While the human rights violations and tortures seem to be common in Uzbekistan, Yakubov's story does not seem to be verified by any other sources. He did not provide any sufficient evidence to any of his claims, which made some suggest he was not telling the truth.
