The key facts

  • Mekhmonov was sentenced to 10 years and 3 months, Goipnazarov to 10 years and 1 month in general-regime colonies
  • Mekhmonov was found guilty under Articles 165, 168 and 248 of the Criminal Code, the blogger under Article 165 (extortion)
  • Material damages were ordered to be recovered from Mekhmonov in favor of the victims; the verdict may be appealed

Verdict announced on November 11

On November 11, the Mirabad district criminal court of Tashkent announced the verdict for Demokrat.uz online outlet head Fazliddinkhon Mekhmonov and blogger Aziz Goipnazarov.

Who was convicted and under which articles

Mekhmonov, born in 1998, a native of the Namangan region with prior convictions, was found guilty under Articles 165 (extortion), 168 (fraud) and 248 (illegal trafficking in firearms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices) of the Criminal Code. He was sentenced to 10 years and 3 months of imprisonment. Goipnazarov, born in 1991, a native of Tashkent, also previously convicted, was sentenced under Article 165 (extortion) to 10 years and 1 month. Both will serve their sentences in general-regime colonies. The court ordered material damages caused to the victims to be recovered from Mekhmonov. The parties may appeal the verdict in appellate or cassation proceedings before the Tashkent city court.

The essence of the charges

According to the investigation, on December 15, 2025, Goipnazarov prepared and posted online a video discrediting the activities of one of the car dealerships in the Sergeli district. After that, Mekhmonov demanded a total of $50,000 from the entrepreneur for removing the video from social media and for not publishing in the media another clip prepared by Demokrat.uz that would damage the businessman's reputation. According to the Tashkent Police Department, on January 29 he received $3,000, and on February 10 he was detained with material evidence while receiving $17,000. A criminal case on this fact was opened in February 2026.

Context

Earlier, Taftish.uz head Gairat Aberyaev was sentenced to a long prison term of 10 years and 6 months, and journalist Marjona Eshkuvvatova to 4 years and 1 month.