Elmurod Odilov, a blogger working in Kashkadarya, was imprisoned for 15 days for interfering in the work of farmers in Yakkabog district.

According to the Supreme Court, based on the decision of the Yakkabog district court on criminal proceedings dated May 27, 2023, Odilov was found to have committed offenses under Article 183 (petty hooliganism) and Article 198-1 (failing to fulfill the legal requirements of a representative of the authorities or obstructing the performance of official duties) of the Criminal Code, and he was sentenced to 15 days of administrative imprisonment.

According to the information service of the Kashkadarya regional DIA, on May 26 around 10:30 p.m., citizen Elmurod Odilov, who introduced himself as “Elmurod blog”, came to the cocoon storage warehouse in the area of “Ibn Sino” mahalla of Yakkabog district during the process of receiving cocoons.

“There was a quarrel between the blogger and farmers as he interfered in their work and asking them various inappropriate questions. In the process, the blogger insulted the farmers. The cocoon farmers appealed to the Yakkabog district DIA regarding the blogger’s behavior. An administrative report with a number of articles of the Administrative Responsibility Code has been formalized in relation to Odilov,” the regional DIA said.

Daryo.uz wrote that the blogger was brutally beaten by DIA officers at the checkpoint. According to the publication’s reporter, the beaten blogger tried to cover the meeting of Yakkabog district deputy governor Fozil Khidirov on the implementation of the tasks given to youth leaders, but he was persisted.

In the screenshot provided by the publication, it can be seen that a Telegram user named “Khidirov Fozil Keldiyarovich” addressed youth leaders in all mahallas.

“If everyone does not find one MDR (1-month military service) citizen in his area, measures will be taken up to the dismissal. Look at this task responsibly. Arrive at the meeting – cocoon at 20:00,” the screenshot reads.

Obligation to find a man for the MDR

In Uzbekistan, there are cases where school principals, heads of farms and other budgetary organizations are involved in the recruitment of citizens who have reached the age of mobilization draft reserve (MDR).

In 2019, the governor of Urgut district instructed all school principals in the district to find one person each to attract them to MDR.

For information, citizens admitted to MDR pay 20 BCAs (currently 6,600,000 soums).

On August 27, 2021, the law “On general military obligation and military service” was discussed at the Senate plenary session. During the discussion, senators stated that there are various objections by citizens about the high amount of money contributions paid by the persons recruited to the MDR.

Chairperson of the Senate, Tanzila Narbayeva, instructed the Defense Ministry officials to submit relevant proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers within two weeks in order to reduce the amount of this payment or to find an alternative option.

It is not known what the future fate of the assignment was, but the amount of money paid by the servicemen in the reserve draft mobilization is 20 BCAs.