A blogger in Uzbekistan who regularly accuses local authorities of corruption and negligence has been jailed on charges of extortion, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Otabek Sattoriy operates channels called “The People’s Opinion” on YouTube and Telegram, the most widely used messenger service in Uzbekistan. He is based in the provincial city of Termez on the former Soviet republic’s border with Afghanistan.
Sattoriy was arrested and accused of extorting a local businessman in a city bazaar where he had filmed video reports about the unaffordable prices of foodstuffs, his lawyer Shavkat Shakirov told AFP.
Sattoriy thinks he was set up, said Shakirov.
He believed the incident that led to the charge was “a provocation organised by authorities” irritated by his critical coverage, the lawyer said, adding that his client could face further charges.
The Committee to Protect Journalists watchdog on Monday called on Uzbekistan to release Sattoriy immediately and allow him to work freely.
Sattoriy’s sister Farangis Sattoriy told AFP that the family has been unable to visit him since his arrest on January 30.
Uzbekistan’s hardline regime has allowed breathing space for independent media including foreign press in recent years, although decision-makers often appear to be at odds over how far this should go.
The foreign ministry said this month it had sacked a staff member accused of sexual harassment by a Polish journalist who has written for The Guardian and Al Jazeera.
Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska was initially denied accreditation by the ministry. She complained on Twitter that a ministry staffer had tried to kiss her and requested positive coverage of government policy while her request was being considered.
The ministry later apologised to Pikulicka-Wilczewska and granted her accreditation request.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said last week that journalists had “no need to fear” as the head of state “stands behind them”, in comments interpreted as a response to the scandal.
Agence France-Presse
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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