Journalists of the “Qonun doirasida” project detained

Lawyer Furqat Rozmetov, who ran the “Qonun doirasida” project, and his associate Azamat Avezov have been detained on suspicion of committing a number of crimes. This was reported by the regional Department of Internal Affairs.

According to the statement, the suspects were detained following pre-investigation checks conducted in response to complaints filed by several citizens with law enforcement agencies.

The suspects are Furqat Sultonnazarovich Rozmetov, born in 1980 in Urgench city, and Azamat Rozimboyevich Avezov, born in 1992 in Urgench District. A criminal case has been initiated against them and others by the investigation department under the Urgench City Department of Internal Affairs under several articles of the Criminal Code.

In particular, the charges include:

– Article 139, Part 3, Clauses “a” and “g” (defamation);
– Article 165, Part 3, Clauses “a” and “v” (extortion);
– Article 168, Part 4, Clauses “a” and “v” (fraud);
– Article 198, Part 3 (damage to or destruction of crops, forests, trees, or other vegetation);
– Article 228, Part 2, Clause “b” and Part 3 (production, forgery, sale, or use of documents, stamps, seals, and forms);
– Article 229 (arbitrariness);
– Article 244-6, Part 3, Clause “y” (dissemination of false information).

It was reported that Furqat Rozmetov and Azamat Avezov have been placed in custody as a preventive measure within the framework of the case.

It is worth noting that on January 16 this year, four employees of the Taftish.uz website were detained on suspicion of extortion and fraud. The detainees included Gairat Aberayev, born in 1988, as well as Taftish.uz media staff members Azizjon Yuldashev (born in 1992), Sardor Hamidov (born in 2000), Marjona Eshquvvatova (born in 2006), and Dilshod Nishonov (born in 1998). They were detained in accordance with procedural rules under Articles 165 (extortion) and 168 (fraud) of the Criminal Code. Their possible involvement in crimes under Article 139 (defamation) and Article 244-6 (dissemination of false information) is currently being investigated.

Earlier, a journalist from the Xalqparvar Guruhi outlet was sentenced to four years in prison in Uzbekistan. The court found the journalist guilty under Article 139, Part 3, Clause “g” (defamation), Article 140, Part 3, Clause “a” (insult), Article 165, Part 1 (extortion), Article 219, Part 1 (resisting a representative of authority or a person performing civic duties), Article 227, Part 2, Clause “a” (illegal possession, destruction, damage, or concealment of documents, stamps, seals, forms, and state license plates of motor vehicles and their trailers), and Article 244-6, Part 1 (dissemination of false information) of the Criminal Code.