Uzbekistan: first criminal case was opened for insulting the President
The State Security Service in Jizakh region opened the first criminal case against a local resident after changes in the Criminal Code in March 2021. He faces a term under the article 158 (“Public insult or slander against the President of Uzbekistan, as well as using the press or other media, telecommunications networks or the world information network Internet”).
In the disseminated message of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office, it is said that the investigation has begun. The suspect’s name was not disclosed. In the press release, a 52-year-old resident of Bakhmal district was named V.K. Under these initials, he published posts on YouTube and Facebook. At the time of this writing, the content was already absent on the network.
The Department issued a complicated interpretation of the actions – a network activist. It is alleged that he “in his speeches misinterpreted the reforms, carried out under the leadership of the President, to the general public, insulted the President and disseminated information that humiliated and defamed the image of the head of state, thereby slandering him,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in its statement.
“We should expect other similar cases,” notes the ACCA expert. “Strong discontent due to the deteriorating socio-economic situation and numerous violations of the population’s rights manifests itself on social networks. The monitoring is carried out by both the security services and the pro-government groups of Internet trolls.”
Numerous responses from users show the idea that for the authorities the new article in the Criminal Code expands the scope for repression. For many people, the changes in laws mean a return to the time of the President Karimov.
“Idiocy is growing stronger, but the people do not come out of bondage,” said one of the commentators.
