Local blogger arrested for attempting to cover mobilization draft reserve meeting in Kashkadarya
Blogger Imprisoned for Interfering in Farmers’ Work
A blogger named Elmurod Odilov from Kashkadarya has been imprisoned for 15 days for interfering in the work of farmers in Yakkabog district. According to the Yakkabog district court’s decision on criminal proceedings dated May 27, 2023, Odilov was found guilty of offenses under Article 183 (petty hooliganism) and Article 198-1 (failing to fulfill the legal requirements of a representative of the authorities or obstructing the performance of official duties) of the Criminal Code.
The regional Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in Kashkadarya stated that a quarrel occurred between Odilov and the farmers as he interfered in their work and asked them various inappropriate questions when he visited the cocoon storage warehouse in the area of “Ibn Sino” mahalla of Yakkabog district during the process of receiving cocoons. The farmers then reported his behavior to the Yakkabog district DIA.
However, according to Daryo.uz, the blogger was brutally beaten by DIA officers at the checkpoint. The publication’s reporter said that the beaten blogger tried to cover the meeting of Yakkabog district deputy governor Fozil Khidirov on the implementation of the tasks given to youth leaders, but he was not allowed to do so.
In a screenshot provided by the publication, it shows that a Telegram user named “Khidirov Fozil Keldiyarovich” addressed youth leaders in all mahallas, stating that failure to find one citizen for the 1-month military service mobilization draft reserve (MDR) would result in disciplinary action.
In Uzbekistan, there are reports of school principals, heads of farms, and other budgetary organizations being involved in the recruitment of citizens who have reached the age of MDR. In 2019, the governor of Urgut district instructed all school principals in the district to find one person each to attract them to MDR.
Citizens admitted to MDR are required to pay 20 BCAs (currently 6,600,000 soums). Senators have expressed objections to the high amount of money contributions paid by the individuals recruited to the MDR and have instructed the Defense Ministry officials to submit relevant proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers within two weeks to reduce this payment or find alternative options. However, the current amount is still 20 BCAs.
The fate of the blogger remains uncertain as he serves his 15-day administrative imprisonment for interfering in farmers’ work.
