Uzbek Journalist Abdullaev Detained In Turkey

Noted Uzbek journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev has been detained in Turkey on unspecified charges and his family says they fear he will be tortured if returned to the Central Asian country.

Abdullaev’s daughter, Kamola Qodiri, who is a university student in Turkey, told RFE/RL on April 26 that police in Turkey’s northwestern city of Eskisehir detained her father two days earlier.

Qodiri claimed that her father was detained most likely at the request of Uzbek authorities and may face arbitrary arrest and torture if extradited to Tashkent.

The 50-year-old journalist has resided in Germany in recent years. It is not known when and why he travelled to Turkey.

Abdullaev first became known in 2017 after police arrested him and three other men on a charge of calling for a change to Uzbekistan’s constitutional order by force.

Those charges stemmed from a series of articles under the byline Usmon Haqnazarov, which was apparently used by more than one person.

Abdullaev denied the charge at the time, saying he was doing his job as a journalist.

In May 2018, Abdullaev was convicted on charges of producing “anti-government propaganda.” But he was cleared of the more serious charge of conspiracy against the state — and was then released.

However, in 2020, Abdullaev fled the country for Kyrgyzstan after Uzbek investigators launched a probe against him on charges that still remain unknown.

Media reports in Uzbekistan suggested the case against Abdullaev then was linked to his social media posts critical of President Shavkat Mirziyoev written under the pen name Qora Mergan (Black Shooter).

In August 2020, Kyrgyz authorities detained Abdullaev and extradited him to Tashkent.

The United States and human rights groups expressed concern that he would be subjected to persecution and possible torture in Uzbekistan. However, when he arrived in Uzbekistan, he was immediately released under supervision pending an investigation.

In October 2020, Abdullaev said the criminal investigation against him was dropped.

The United States welcomed the decision at the time.