Shokhid Mamadjonov faces a 7-year prison sentence

At the first court hearing in the case of Shohida Mahmadjonova, the state prosecutor demanded a sentence of 7 years in prison.

Photo: Internet

As reported by Radio Ozodi, on April 7, a court hearing took place in the case of Shohida Mahmadjonova, the mother of blogger and government critic Sherzod Mahmadjonov (known as “Abdurakhmon 09”), who lives in Germany.

The prosecutor stated that Mahmadjonova posted comments on YouTube under her son’s video and the “Isloh+” clip, which were directed against the constitutional order of Tajikistan.

The defendant stated that she indeed wrote these comments because her brother, who worked in one of the military units, was dismissed in June 2021. Relatives reproached Mahmadjonova for her brother’s dismissal due to her son’s statements.

Shohida Mahmadjonova emphasized that upon visiting her mother’s house and seeing her brother’s condition, she felt guilty. According to her, at the beginning of the school year, when she saw that her unemployed brother could not buy school uniforms for the children, she could not hold back and posted two comments insulting the authorities on YouTube.

Shohida Mahmadjonova’s lawyer requested the court to impose a non-custodial sentence, citing his client’s sincere remorse.

The case of Shohida Mahmadjonova has become resonant, especially among opposition representatives. Almost all opposition representatives expressed support for Mahmadjonova, condemned her detention, and demanded her immediate release.

Sherzod Mahmadjonov, a Tajik blogger living in Germany and known by the nickname “Abdurakhmon 09,” previously told Azda TV that on February 2, police officers in Vahdat summoned his mother Shohida Mahmadjonova to the station to retrieve her mobile phone, which was in their possession. On February 3, his mother went to the organized crime department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Vahdat and went missing. Later, on February 8, under pressure from civil society and human rights groups, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan was forced to admit that she had been detained, but her relatives were still not allowed to see Mahmadjonova.