Bloger “Abdullo” was found guilty of “extremist activity”. Photo: Internet According to Radio Ozodi, the court in Dushanbe sentenced social media activist Shodruz Akhorov, known by the nickname “Abdullo”, to 6 years in prison on charges of “calling for extremism via the Internet”. Experts say he was sentenced to imprisonment because he publicly criticized the […]
Bloger “Abdullo” was found guilty of “extremist activity”.
Photo: InternetAccording to Radio Ozodi, the court in Dushanbe sentenced social media activist Shodruz Akhorov, known by the nickname “Abdullo”, to 6 years in prison on charges of “calling for extremism via the Internet”.
Experts say he was sentenced to imprisonment because he publicly criticized the authorities’ policies on social media.
It is reported that the prosecutor requested a seven-year prison sentence for Shodruz Akhorov, but the court reduced the sentence by one year, considering that his wife and child are disabled.
According to sources, Shodruz Akhorov was deported from Russia in March of this year for violating the rules of stay in the country. A few days later, police officers detained Akhorov at his home in Dushanbe.
It is reported that before his deportation, Shodruz asked the Russian authorities not to deport him to Tajikistan, as he is a civil society activist and faces arrest and imprisonment in his homeland.
This is not the first case where Tajik authorities send social media activists to prison. Recently, law enforcement agencies have intensified pressure on bloggers and journalists. In less than two months, 7 journalists and bloggers have been detained and imprisoned, including Daleri Emomali, Abdullo Gurbati, Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda, Zavkibek Saidamini, and others. All of them were charged with “extremism” or cooperation with banned parties, including the IRPT.