According to Daria Saprynska, an orientalist and researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the black market for organ trafficking in Central Asia poses a serious threat.
Despite significant efforts to tighten laws, such as reforms in Uzbekistan carried out in 2022, this region continues to be a battleground for illegal operations. In 2025, a group of 12 people involved in organ trafficking was exposed in Uzbekistan, and reports of similar activities have also emerged from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
There are several factors complicating the fight against this phenomenon:
- Geographical features and "gray zones". Proximity to South Asia, known as the center of this business, and the presence of disputed borders create conditions for the almost unhindered operation of criminal groups.
- Legal cover. Tracking such trade is extremely difficult, as many operations disguise themselves as voluntary donations. People sign agreements, thereby legalizing criminal activity in medicine.
- Social vulnerability. The poorest segments of the population, as well as women and children, are most at risk. In conditions of demographic growth and a lack of social benefits, criminal organizations exploit poverty as an "entry point" for their activities.
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