Uzbek writer Nurullo Otakhonov was arrested at Islam Karimov airport when he was returning from Turkey on suspicion of promoting extremist ideas in his These Days novel.
These Days was published in Turkey in 2015 and was then harshly criticized by the government, and was found as "extremist" by the Religious Affairs Committee under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.
Deputy Chief of the Tashkent Police Department, head of the Investigation Department Doniyor Tashkhodzhaev commented on his detention at the airport at a briefing on Thursday.
Nurullo Otakhonov (pseudonym Nurullo Muhammad Raufhon) arrived in Uzbekistan from Turkey on September 27, where he lived for the past two years. He was detained immediately upon his arrival, as he was officially on the wanted list, Donier Tashkhodzhaev said.
"On May 11, a criminal case was initiated against Otakhonov Nurullo under Article 159 [of the Criminal Code - Encroachment on the Constitutional Order of the Republic of Uzbekistan]," Doniyor Tashkhodzhaev said. - Following investigations he was charged in absentia under Article 159 part 1, Art. 244-1, part 3, clause "d" (*), and preventive measure was imposed on him in the form of detention , and he has been put on the wanted list."
"He did not apply for pardon, forgiveness neither did he notify of his coming to the country, about changing the measure of restraint. He did not officially address to the law enforcement agencies. We have no such information, " he added.
"While the investigation is underway, we will conduct [all necessary] investigations, if necessary, we will conduct additional examination. If his guilt is not confirmed or if his actions fall under the clemence act, we will take a decision in accordance with the law," he concluded.
Nurullo Otakhonov was born in Oyimcha Qaqir village of Uzbekistan's Fergana Province. He graduated from the Uzbek Philology Department of Tashkent State University. He is known by the collections of stories -On the Road, Wide World, Local Man.
Nights of White Building, a love story published in Sharq Yulduzi magazine was named as The Best Story of the Year.
