Father of prominent blogger dies after mysterious disappearance

The father of well-known blogger Temur Malik, founder of the “Fayzbog‘” page known for socio-political commentary, reportedly disappeared under unclear circumstances, was later found in a psychiatric hospital, and died shortly afterward. The blogger claims that his father had been taken to a psychiatric facility by officers of the Samarkand city internal affairs department without informing the family, and that he died as a result of strong medications administered there. He shared these allegations on his social media page.

According to him, his father, identified as V.T., a second-group disability holder born in 1956, died on April 14 after remaining unconscious at home for about a day.

The deceased had worked as a neighborhood committee chairman for 11 years and had retired around eight years ago. In recent years, he had reportedly been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

“On April 10, about a week ago, my father mysteriously disappeared. After searching for a day, we found that officers from the Samarkand city internal affairs department had taken him to a psychiatric hospital in the Samarkand district. We were outraged and tried to bring him home that same day, but since it was a weekend, the doctors told us he could only be released on Monday with the permission of the head of the institution. We brought him home early Monday morning.

However, his condition was already critical at that time. Doctors at the hospital administered powerful drugs that severely affected his system. After returning home, he remained unconscious for about a day and eventually died on April 14,” Temur Malik wrote.

It was reported that a formal complaint has been submitted to the Samarkand regional prosecutor’s office requesting an investigation into the case. A forensic medical examination has been ordered, and its results are currently pending.

Temur Malik has put forward several demands.

“How did my father end up in a psychiatric hospital? Who took him there and why were family members not informed? Who administered the injections to my father and what medications were used that led to his death? There must be guarantees that the case will not be quietly closed before the forensic examination results are released.

It must not be allowed for the case to be covered up with minor punishment for some low-level employee. The activities of the psychiatric hospital in the Samarkand district must be fundamentally reviewed, and its work processes and staff qualifications must be given a proper legal and professional assessment. If anyone else has encountered similar situations before us, I ask them to contact me.”

In response, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General's Office of Uzbekistan, Hayot Shamsutdinov, stated that a pre-investigation inquiry is underway into the death of the citizen, born in 1956 and residing in the “Qumzor” neighborhood of the Samarkand district, who died at his home on April 14.

“A forensic medical examination has been ordered to determine the cause of death. The inquiry will be conducted comprehensively, thoroughly, and impartially, and a legal decision will be made based on the results,” Shamsutdinov said.

He also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.