In Tashkent, a 60-year-old blogger, owner of Telegram channel and a YouTube channel with 5660 subscribers Shakhida Salomova was arrested.
According to the Tashkent police department, citizen A. G. (presumably 52-year-old blogger Alexei Garshin, a video about whom Salomova posted a week ago) filed a complaint to the investigation department and requested to take legal action against Shakhida Salomova, who allegedly insulted and slandered him on social networks.
“In the course of the check, an expert opinion was obtained, according to which insulting words addressed to A.G. were found in Sh.S.’s audio recording,” the police department said in a statement.
Shahida Salomova is facing Libel in print, including posted on the Internet) and Insult in printed form, including posted on the Internet charge. Both articles provide for punishment in the form of a fine of 200 to 400 basic settlement units (60 million to 120 million soums, or from 5,500 to 11,000 USD) or compulsory public works from 240 to 300 hours or correctional labor from 1 to 2 years.
Reportedly, as part of the criminal case, a forensic psychiatric examination was appointed against her to check the mental state of Sh.S. According to the court decision, the suspect Sh.S. had been placed in a medical institution.
The department said that during the investigation "all procedural norms had been fully observed." They also pointed to the “absence of obstacles” for the participation of lawyer Shakhida Salomova in the investigation process. The investigation is ongoing.
Kamola Kamalova, who identified herself as Salomova's daughter, said in a December 20 Facebook post that "local authorities in Tashkent" took her mother away from her home on December 18.
“Since then, we have not been able to contact her or find out anything about her health. Immediately on December 19, I hired a lawyer to find out her whereabouts. The lawyer managed to find her at the Tashkent police department. He introduced himself as an official who should be admitted to the client. Unfortunately, all his requests are ignored, and the latest news is that the first hearings on the case are taking place without an official lawyer. For some reason, a [public] lawyer was present (we don't know who he is)," she wrote.
According to her, Shakhida Salomova has chronic diabetes and asthma, and she needs constant medical supervision.
“Usually, she never leaves the house unnecessarily, as she is constantly visited and treated by doctors. What force could lead to such cruel and unfair treatment. According to the latest information, she was accused of slander! Since when for this kind of guilt (until proven) such harsh measures? Is she even alive?! What are you hiding?! Release my mother Shakhina Ergashevna Salomova!” — wrote Kamola Kamalova.
According to media reports, before the arrest, Shakhida Salomova published an audio recording on her Telegram channel, in which she said that she had been turned off the electricity, the landline phone, and four unknown persons were standing in front of the door and demanded to open it. After that, she disappeared and stopped communicating.
