Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Yakkasaray District Criminal Court of Tashkent has delivered its verdict in the case of the deaths of three guests at the Karaman Palace Hotel, including Russian journalist Inessa Papernaya.

Presiding Judge Bahodir Kayumov announced that the hotel owner was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison.

In addition, the hotel’s plumber and two individuals who had sold the establishment a faulty heating boiler — identified as the cause of the tragedy — were each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

The tragic incident occurred in October 2024. According to Uzbekistan’s General Prosecutor’s Office, the bodies of three people were found at the Karaman Palace Hotel. Among the victims was Inessa Papernaya (born 1977), a Russian citizen known for her work with the magazine Profil and the news outlet Lenta.ru, along with her companion (born 1979) and a 1976-born Uzbek citizen who had been staying in another room.

Investigators determined that the deaths resulted from carbon monoxide poisoning, which entered the hotel’s ventilation system. An expert examination revealed that the hotel had installed an outdated heating boiler that did not meet safety standards. Moreover, during its installation, the condensate drainage system’s siphon had been removed, which experts concluded was the cause of the carbon monoxide leak.

The investigation established that gross violations had been committed during the installation of the equipment, and that the owners and contractors had acted negligently, leading to the loss of lives. All defendants were taken into custody during the investigation phase.

The case drew significant public attention both in Uzbekistan and in Russia, particularly within the journalistic community.