Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Military Court has sentenced staff members of Taftish.uz and former employees of the State Security Service to prison terms ranging from 4.1 to 10.6 years.
Taftish.uz project head Gairat Aberaev was sentenced to 10.6 years in prison. Journalist Marjona Eshkuvatova received a 4.1-year prison sentence. Two other editorial representatives, Azizjon Yuldashev and Sardor Khamidov, as well as former State Security Service employees, were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.
The court found the defendants guilty of defamation, insult, fraud and extortion. According to the decision issued following a closed court hearing, the convicted individuals will serve their sentences in general-regime correctional colonies.
The criminal case was investigated by military investigators. The defendants were detained on 16 January.
According to investigators, the defendants used journalistic activities as a cover while systematically extorting large sums of money from entrepreneurs and private citizens.
The investigation alleged that they threatened to publish defamatory and discrediting information in order to obtain the money.
