Ferghana criminal court ruled the Ferghana-based blogger Olimjon Khaydarov for a fine of 21 million soums, or nearly $ 2,000 on Tuesday, the Supreme Court reported.
The court found the blogger guilty of committing offenses under Violation of the procedure for organizing, holding meetings, rallies, street processions or demonstrations charge and the dissemination of false information, including in the media, telecommunications networks or the Internet, containing a threat to public order or security of the Administrative Liability Code.
In early December, Olimjon Khaydarov posted a video in which employees of Albus gypsum plant in the Ferghana province who were claiming that 10,000 residents were left without work due to a gas cut in the district's organizations.
The press service of Fergana province police department reported some details of the case. According to the report, the blogger disseminated a footage "containing misleading statements, stating that there was no shortage of gas at other plants."
According to the department, on December 11, employees A.T., D.N., U.T. and O.S. filed a complaint and said that on December 4-6, Olimjon Khaydarov, who introduced himself as a blogger-journalist, came to the plant. According to them, he allegedly stated that the plant would soon cease operations due to a disconnection from the gas supply, as a result, the workers would be left without work and earnings.
The blogger called on the workers to get together, stage a protest and record a video message, and then the gas could be re-connected.
“In addition, it was established from the case file that O. Khaydarov taught how to film the protest, said that some participants could not speak well enough, so others should speak, urged the demonstrators to speak aggressively, participated in the planning of this demonstration through repeated duplicates. On December 6, although he did not take a direct part, he communicated with a protest filming specialist, organized his work and distributed ready-made video materials through his channel, ”the Department noted.
According to the department, the applicants asked to take legal action against Olimjon Khaydarov, who “urged them to breach the laws”. The Department emphasized that the situation was fully investigated, "the arguments and actions of the blogger were confirmed."
