The dissertation of Gayrat Farkhadovich Musaev was defended before the Scientific Council DSc.24/2026.31.01.Yu.01.02, authorised to award academic degrees under the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the speciality 12.00.09 – “Criminal Procedure. Criminalistics, Operational-Search Law and Forensic Examination”. The research focuses on improving the methodology for investigating crimes committed through the use of the hidden segment of the Internet (Darknet).

The study substantiates the need to develop the scientific and methodological foundations of digital forensics, establish a unified interagency register of digital evidence, and закрепить the independent legal status of digital evidence in criminal procedure legislation. It also proposes ensuring the participation of a specialist in the seizure and examination of electronic data.

The practical outcomes of the research include draft documents on conducting forensic examinations of digital evidence and maintaining a unified register thereof, a methodology for the forensic examination of large volumes of data, and a teaching and methodological guide on investigating crimes in the field of crypto-asset circulation. A master's degree teaching module on the legal framework for cybersecurity has also been developed and introduced into the educational process.

Following the defence, the Scientific Council recommended Gayrat Farkhadovich Musaev’s dissertation for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law.