Head of “Demokrat.uz” and blogger sentenced to over 10 years in prison for extortion

Fazliddinxon Mehmonov, head of the online publication “Demokrat.uz,” has been sentenced to 10 years and 3 months in prison, while blogger Aziz Goipnazarov received a 10-year-and-1-month sentence. This was reported by the press service of the Tashkent city courts.

The verdict was announced on November 11. Mehmonov was found guilty of extortion, fraud, and the illegal handling of weapons, while Goipnazarov was convicted of extortion. They will serve their sentences in a general-regime penal colony.

According to the investigation, Goipnazarov posted a video online that discredited the operations of an auto dealership in the Sergeli district. Subsequently, Mehmonov demanded $50,000 from the business owner in exchange for removing the video and refraining from publishing further material about the entrepreneur.

Under the court’s ruling, Mehmonov is also required to compensate the victims for the material damages caused.