On June 24, 73-year-old journalist and writer Zokir Hasanzoda was detained in Samarkand region. He was taken to the Regional Department of Internal Affairs, but the admission of his lawyer was refused.
Relatives reported diabetes and two heart attacks of the detained journalist. In addition, after the detention, the journalist wasn’t fed, which could drastically worsen his health. “Given the condition and illness, being in custody is more like torture,” emphasizes the ACCA expert.
According to one version, the reason for the detention was Zokir Hasanzoda’s comments about the new monument to Rudaki in Samarkand. A few hours later, he was released. The authorities didn’t respond to journalistic criticism on social networks until the arrival of President of Tajikistan, Mr. Rahmon, to Uzbekistan. The attack was decided after the end of the visit. According to Samarkand journalist Tashpulat Rakhmatullayev, law enforcement officers took a non-dissemination of information from Zokir Hasanzoda, which only confirms its negative effect on Tajik-Uzbek relations.
Zokir Hasanzoda is a member of the Union of Writers and the Creative Union of Journalists, a correspondent of the republican newspaper “Ovozi Tojik” (Voice of the Tajik) in Samarkand region, and one of the oldest journalists in Uzbekistan.
This is not the first time that the authorities persecute old activists. Earlier, ACCA wrote that on February 18, the Criminal Court of the city of Almalyk decided to restrict freedom for a period of 5 years under house arrest for 70-year-old activist Karomat Ashirova.
On March 16, the City Court of Tashkent upheld the verdict of the first instance, according to which 75-year-old Vazira Egamberdiyeva must pay a fine of $125. On February 24, in the Administrative Court of Mirzo-Ulugbek district of the capital, she was found guilty of committing an offense under part 1 of Article 202 (“Creating conditions for holding unauthorized meetings, rallies, street processions and demonstrations”) of the Code of Administrative Responsibility of Uzbekistan.
