OSCE media freedom representative welcomes release of journalist in Uzbekistan

VIENNA, 5 October 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov, a former correspondent with Uznews.net and the UK-based Institute for War and Peace Reporting. 

“The release of Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov is another positive step by the authorities of Uzbekistan to improve media freedom in the country.  It follows the release of journalists Mukhammad Bekjanov and Djamshid Karimov earlier this year,” the Representative said. “In welcoming this decision, I also call on authorities of the country to follow it up with the release of other imprisoned and detained journalists.”

Abdurakhmanov was arrested on 7 June 2008 in Nukus, where he was subsequently tried on charges of drug peddling and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment.

Uzbekistan is hosting 19th Central Asia Media Conference on 18-19 October 2017 organized by the Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media.