Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Nilufar Mirkhanova, known as “Madame Claude,” was detained in Türkiye. This was reported by the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul.

She was detained during operational activities of law enforcement agencies of Uzbekistan and Türkiye.

She was put on the wanted list on charges of committing crimes under paragraphs “a”, “c”, “d”, “h”, “i” of Part 2 of Article 135 of the Criminal Code - trafficking in persons committed by kidnapping, violence or threat its use or other forms of coercion; in relation to two or more persons; in relation to a person who is financially or otherwise dependent on the perpetrator; with the movement of the victim across the state border of Uzbekistan or with his illegal detention abroad; using forged documents, as well as with the seizure, concealment or destruction of documents identifying the victim.

The accused faces a sentence of imprisonment from 8 to 12 years.

On 10 January, she was deported from Istanbul to Uzbekistan.