Due to threats and pressure, video blogger Shavkat Egamberdiev was forced to remove a satirical video that offends the reputation of Artel and Akfa companies. These companies were founded by the mayor of Tashkent, Jakhongir Artykhodjaev, who, according to the law, formally went out of business, but still exercises full control over the business structures of the holding.
The video was posted on the Troll.uz telegram channel on August 31, but it was removed at the request of the author. The appearance of the story on the network so excited the management of Artel that its representative, during the celebration of Independence Day (September 1), urgently left Tashkent for Namangan, where the blogger lives. After the meeting, Shavkakh Egamberdiev made a repentance, the video appeared on the company’s website.
Hired shills and Artel employees posted posts on social networks and in comments under the publication of the online edition Gazeta.uz, trying to slander Troll.uz administrator Umid Gafurov. In his apology, the Namangan resident accused Troll.uz of “set-up”, because thanks to it the video was seen by an audience of tens of thousands of users.
Artel explained the Internet activity of its employees by saying that “spreading of incorrect information, discrediting the honor and business reputation of the company, for the instant popularity, in modern terms, “hype” by some envious persons, caused anger among the numerous staff of the enterprise.”
The content of the edited plot shows the author’s attitude towards Artel and Akfa. To avoid litigation, the names of non-existent brands CARTEL and BRAKFA were used. When viewing, associations of cartel collusion and defective products arise immediately. The visuals have reinforced a wicked parody of activities of the companies which have advantages in government procurement.
The video contains inscriptions that are toxic for the Tashkent mayor. It recalled the words that became the slogan “Any business is good”, threats against journalists, and flaunting homophobia. Thus, the videographer unwittingly creatively expressed solidarity with his colleagues.
Earlier, ACCA wrote about how the mayor of Tashkent, Artykkhodzhaev, scolded the journalists and threatened them with reprisals. One of the bloggers in his channel noted that right now, right in front of our eyes, “an organized criminal group with its censorship and racketeering is being formed.”
The attacks on bloggers did not stop the video from spreading further on social media.
The desire to remove information from the public access has only attracted attention which is so unwelcome for business. Artel is now discussing the issue of taking appropriate measures under the procedure established by law on the fact of the distribution of videos by users on the social networks Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook.
The merger of the public and private sectors of the economy in the new Uzbekistan, based on the example of the business empire of Artykkhodzhaev, was investigated by experts from the international organization Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).
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