HRW Joins Other Rights Watchdogs In Condemning Uzbek Blogger s Arrest
February 12, 2021 09:51 GMT
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has joined other rights organizations in condemning the arrest of Uzbek video blogger Otabek Sattoriy, calling the extortion case against him dubious and urging the Central Asian country s government to drop all charges and release him. Otabek Sattoriy s blogging on sensitive issues such as alleged corruption and farmers rights has put him in local authorities crosshairs, Mihra Rittmann, senior Central Asia researcher at HRW, said in a
statement on February 12. Uzbek authorities should release Sattoriy, drop the charges for lack of evidence, and respect and protect freedom of expression, Rittmann added.
Uzbek Authorities Say Case Against Jailed Blogger Lawful ; Rights Groups Blast Fabricated Charges
February 11, 2021 17:19 GMT
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TASHKENT The Uzbek Prosecutor-General s Office has said a criminal case against Otabek Sattoriy, a video blogger critical of the regional government, is lawful, while rights watchdogs say the case is fabricated and have urged Tashkent to immediately release him.
In its February 11 statement, the Prosecutor-General s Office said that special inspections had not revealed any wrongdoings by the Interior Ministry s directorate in the southern Surxondaryo region, where the 40-year-old founder and editor of the video blog Halq Fikiri (People s Opinion) was arrested in lateJanuary.
Uzbek Blogger Critical Of Local Governor Arrested For Alleged Extortion
February 03, 2021 09:01 GMT
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TERMIZ, Uzbekistan An Uzbek blogger critical of the local government in the southern Surxondaryo region has been arrested on charges that relatives say are trumped up.
Otabek Sattoriy was charged by the Interior Ministry’s investigative department on February 1 on extortion charges.
That came days after Sattoriy was taken from his home on January 29 by plainclothes security officers, his sister Farangiz Alimova told RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service on February 2.
Alimova
Alimova cited the blogger s lawyer as saying that Sattoriy had been charged with extorting cash and a mobile phone from unnamed individuals.