Umid Miraliyev
Independent provincial blogger and grassroots journalist, known for documenting local problems such as agricultural failures, corruption, and administrative misconduct in Qashqadaryo Province. His reporting focused on issues affecting farmers, public services, and accountability of local officials.
He was released from jail in January 2023 but was later ordered to check in regularly with local authorities under restrictions until May 2023. Since then, he has not been reported as re-imprisoned but remains under significant official pressure and surveillance, and his safety remains a concern.
Public reports indicate Miraliyev was prosecuted on charges of fraud and libel — the latter related to his repeated online criticism of local officials, in particular the head of the Shahrisabz district. While many Uzbek bloggers face charges under speech-related provisions such as Article 158 (insulting the president online) or broader public-order provisions, the specific article numbers for Miraliyev’s fraud and libel charges were not detailed in available reporting.
The legal proceedings against Miraliyev were held in 2022, with a focus on comments he made in his videos documenting local governance failures. According to his own accounts, the authorities tried to obtain testimony alleging he had taken money from local actors in exchange for not publishing critical material but were unable to find credible witnesses. He said the libel charge stemmed from videos that criticised a local official (Abdusamad Khasanov). After his release in early 2023, part of his sentence involved structured check-ins with authorities rather than continued incarceration.
Miraliyev spent time in detention during his 2022–2023 legal case, but after being released in January 2023 he did not return to formal prison for the remainder of the reporting period. Instead, his “punishment” involved ongoing monitoring and reporting obligations to local authorities.
There is no detailed public information available indicating a specific health condition or medical issues for Miraliyev during or after his detention.
