Otabek Akhliddinov
Physician, independent blogger, and member of the human rights organisation Ezgulik. Before his arrest, he served as the head of the Reception and Diagnostic Department at a hospital in Shahrikhan district, Andijan region, and regularly published on social and local governance issues affecting the medical sector and local residents.
He is imprisoned following conviction and continues to serve his sentence after the appeals process. On appeal, the Andijan Regional Court increased his sentence compared with the initial verdict.
Article 165-2(a) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan – Extortion (large-scale or repeated) of money in connection with his blogging and reporting activities on corruption or deficiencies in local services.
Article 167-3(a) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan – Embezzlement in an especially large amount (criminalised misappropriation or misuse of funds).
These charges were tied to allegations by authorities that he solicited money from a construction firm and a medical association in exchange for not publishing critical content about their activities — allegations which belief to be politically motivated.
The Khanabad City Criminal Court initially convicted Akhliddinov in November 2023 and sentenced him to 5 years 1 month imprisonment, banned him from holding financially responsible positions in the public sector, and prohibited him from engaging in blogging for three years. Following a protest by the prosecutor’s office, the Andijan Regional Criminal Court (appeal) upheld the conviction and increased his sentence to 7 years and 1 month, along with similar professional and blogging restrictions. Reports noted that the court did not give weight to his defense arguments or evaluate testimonial evidence in his favor.
Akhliddinov is serving his sentence under ordinary criminal confinement conditions in Uzbekistan’s prison system.
There are no publicly documented details from independent sources on Akhliddinov’s specific health status while in detention.
