In Uzbekistan, the editor-in-chief of Democrats was sentenced to 10 years and three months in prison in an extortion case.
The Mirabad District Court in Tashkent found Fazlidinkon Mahmunov guilty of extortion, fraud and illegal trade in firearms and ammunition. This was reported by the press service of the courts in Tashkent.
The second defendant, the blogger Aziz Goipnazarov, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for extortion by threats.
According to the investigators, in December 2025 Guifnazarov published a video that allegedly discredits the activities of one of the car dealerships in the Sargeli district of Tashkent. After that, Makhamonov allegedly demanded 50,000 dollars from the owner of the project for the removal of the video from social networks, as well as for his refusal to publish other materials that could probably damage the businessman's reputation.
The investigators claim that on January 29, Makhamonov received three thousand dollars from him, and on February 10, he was arrested while receiving another 17 thousand dollars.
The press service of the courts does not specify the circumstances surrounding the charge of illegal arms trade.
After learning of the opening of a criminal case, Reporters Without Borders called on the Uzbek authorities to ensure the openness of the trial and publish the evidence on the basis of which the journalist and blogger are being prosecuted.