OSCE media freedom representative welcomes long awaited release of journalist Gayrat Mikhliboev in Uzbekistan

VIENNA, 22 March 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of Uzbek journalist Gayrat Mikhliboev.

“I welcome Mikhliboev’s long awaited release, after he spent 15 years in prison on a seven year imprisonment conviction in 2003,” Désir said. ”Following the release of five other journalists within the last one and a half years, this decision must be another step towards liberation of all imprisoned journalists in Uzbekistan. Therefore I call on the authorities to continue the release of other jailed journalists, including Bobomurod Abdullaev and Khayotkhan (Khan) Nasreddinov.”

The Representative has repeatedly called on the Uzbek authorities, including during his visit to Tashkent in October 2017, to release Mikhliboev and other media professionals who remain in prison (www.osce.org/fom/374122 and www.osce.org/fom/369916).

Mikhliboev was arrested in 2002 on suspicion of membership in a banned religious organization. In 2003 he was sentenced to seven years in prison, and had remained in prison since then.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.