A 38-year-old social media user who accused Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev of supporting Russia's war against Ukraine has been sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in prison. The Kattakurgan District Court in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan handed down the sentence on January 4 to Bunyodjon Boboniyozov, for "insulting or slandering the president of Uzbekistan in public." Boboniyozov wrote the posts on Facebook under the name "Boboniyaz Ahmad." Several Uzbeks have been convicted in the past year under a criminal clause on insulting or slandering the president. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, click here.
Another Uzbek Social Media User Sentenced To Prison For Posts Critical Of President
Editors' Picks
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.