Criminal Case Opened in Tashkent Against Head of Online Publication Demokrat and Blogger for Extortion

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A criminal case has been initiated in Tashkent against Fazliddin Makhmonov, head of the online publication Demokrat, and blogger Aziz Goipnazarov, the press service of the city’s Main Department of Internal Affairs reported.

According to the authorities, on 15 December 2025, Goipnazarov produced and posted an online video discrediting the activities of a car dealership in the Sergeli district. Following this, Makhmonov and Goipnazarov allegedly demanded US$50,000 from the dealership representatives in exchange for removing the published video and refraining from posting other compromising material in the media.

The investigation established that on 29 January 2026, Makhmonov received US$3,000 from the victim party. On 10 February, he was caught in the act while receiving an additional US$17,000, and physical evidence was seized from him at the time.

A criminal case has been opened against Makhmonov and Goipnazarov under Paragraph “a” of Part 3 of Article 165 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan — extortion on a particularly large scale. The penalty under this provision carries imprisonment of up to 15 years.

The investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement authorities have urged anyone who may have suffered from the actions of the suspects to contact their nearest police department or call the short number 102.