A court in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, has slapped an enormous fine on a journalist for “threating public security” after he criticized local authorities. The case was prosecuted so quickly, in only three days, that the journalist was unable to secure a lawyer.

 

On June 28, the Shayhantahur District criminal court fined Said Abdurakhimov, who writes under the penname Sid Yanyshev, 9.6 million sums ($3,200 at the black market exchange rate), or 100 minimum monthly wages. The court found Abdurakhimov guilty of working without accreditation and for "producing or storing materials threatening public security and public order for distribution," the Moscow-based Fergana News website reported. The court also ordered the seizure of Abdurakhimov’s video camera.



The offending article, published by Fergana News on June 25, discussed authorities' failure to compensate residents whose homes were destroyed to build a highway.

 

The independent Uznews.net website said that following the publication, police in Tashkent had forced two women who had spoken to Abdurakhimov to file a complaint against him.

 

In the short period between the publication, the charges, and the court hearing, Abdurakhimov was not able to hire a lawyer and learn the case material, Uznews.net said. Fergana News said he would appeal.

 

Uzbekistan tightly controls the media, blocking critical websites such as Fergana News and a host of international media, including the BBC, RFE/RL and EurasiaNet.org. The country consistently languishes at the bottom of press freedom rankings. In Freedom House's Freedom of the Press Ranking for 2014, Uzbekistan shares 195th place with Turkmenistan, above only North Korea. Uzbekistan also ranks among the world's 10 worst “Enemies of the Internet” compiled by Reporters Without Borders.