Journalist spoke about life in prison

Recently released journalist Mukhamadyusuf Ismoilov spoke about the conditions in the colony and his future plans.

Photo: Internet

Journalist Mukhamadyusuf Ismoilov, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2013 for accepting a bribe of 400 somoni (about 30 dollars), was released on April 16. However, he believes that his sentence was politically motivated and that the real reason was his articles criticizing the authorities of the Asht district in the Sughd region.

In an interview with Radio Ozodi, he stated: “The woman who accused me of extortion wrote to me a year later that she was forced to do it. I do not blame that woman; the security forces pressured her.”

Ismoilov reported that the barracks where he was held did not meet standards.

“There were 80 of us in the barracks – it was a room like a hall, crammed with two-tier metal beds. According to standards, the distance between beds should be at least 1.5 meters,” Ismoilov said.

According to Mukhamadyusuf Ismoilov, the conditions of detention did not comply with the prison regulations. For example, the regulations provide for work, but in reality, there was no work. In addition, prisoners were prohibited from writing.

“The guards did not allow prisoners to write anything. Everyone wrote secretly. I wrote applications to the court and the prosecutor’s office and gave them to the guards. Unfortunately, they did not send anything to the address,” noted Ismoilov.

Ismoilov also reported that by order of the head of the Main Department for the Execution of Criminal Sentences Mansur Umarov, prisoners were banned from listening to the radio. All prisoners had their radios confiscated. However, Ismoilov’s radio was not taken away because they were afraid he might file a complaint.

Journalist Mukhamadyusuf Ismoilov stated that he is not allowed to engage in journalistic activities for three years, but he intends to write humorous stories. He receives a pension of 230 somoni, and one of his sons works in Russia.