The first court hearing in the case of Fazliddinxon Mehmonov and blogger Aziz Gʻoipnazarov was held.
The criminal case initiated against Fazliddinxon Mehmonov, the head of the “Demokrat.uz” internet publication, and blogger Aziz Gʻoipnazarov is being examined in court in Tashkent. This was reported by Effect.uz correspondent Mohinur Hamdamova.
According to information, the Investigative Department under the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs (GUVD) of Tashkent initiated a criminal case against Mehmonov and Gʻoipnazarov under Article 165, Part 3, Paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code.
According to the GUVD information dated February 12, 2026, the incident began on December 15, 2025. According to the investigation version, Gʻoipnazarov prepared and posted a video material on the internet discrediting the activities of one of the car showrooms in Sergeli district.
After that, according to investigative data, Mehmonov and Gʻoipnazarov demanded 50 thousand US dollars from the victim in exchange for deleting this video from social networks and not posting other video materials discrediting the entrepreneur in the media.
According to the GUVD information, Mehmonov was caught red-handed while receiving 3 thousand dollars on January 29, and 17 thousand dollars on February 10.
Later, Fazliddinxon Mehmonov was charged with multiple articles in the case. These include Article 165, Part 2, Paragraphs “a”, “v” and Part 3, Paragraph “a”, Article 168, Part 3, Paragraph “b” and Part 4, Paragraph “a”, as well as Article 248, Part 1 of the Criminal Code.
Article 165 provides for crimes related to extortion. Article 165, Part 2, Paragraphs “a”, “v” and Part 3, Paragraph “a” indicated in the case cover the relevant aggravating circumstances of extortion.
Article 168 relates to fraud. The charges under Article 168, Part 3, Paragraph “b” and Part 4, Paragraph “a” brought against Mehmonov also pertain to the relevant circumstances indicated in the case materials.
Part 1 of Article 248 provides for acts related to the illegal possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, or explosive devices.
Aziz Gʻoipnazarov has been charged under Article 165, Part 3, Paragraph “a”.
The case materials list 9 victims: Jushkin Tuygʻunov, Rufat Sadinov, Umid Inoyatov, Mehroj Rahmatov, Karim Kamolov, Nigora Muhitdinova, Laziz Mirzayev, Oʻktam Mirzayev, and Lutfulla Hafizov.
On September 29, the first court hearing on this case took place at the Mirabad District Court. The hearing was presided over by judge Bahodir Meyliyev. At the first court hearing, the opinions of victims Oʻktam Mirzayev and Nigora Muhitdinova were heard.
According to Nigora Muhitdinova's testimony, Fazliddinxon Mehmonov asked her to give 50 thousand US dollars in exchange for becoming a founder on the “Demokrat.uz” website. She stated that she initially gave 30 thousand dollars, and a month later another 10 thousand dollars. Later, she demanded the return of these funds. After that, it became known that F.Mehmonov had been detained.
Regarding the second case, according to the testimony of Oʻktam Mirzayev, the head of one of the car showrooms in Sergeli district, they negotiated with F.Mehmonov on the matter of developing the car showroom and personal brand. He stated that operational officers detained F.Mehmonov and Gʻoipnazarov while he was handing over 17 thousand dollars of the requested funds at one of the restaurants.
Thus, the criminal case has moved to the trial stage. Currently, the charges brought against Mehmonov and Gʻoipnazarov are being considered by the court.
Note: Until the final verdict of the court enters into legal force, Mehmonov and Gʻoipnazarov are considered innocent based on the presumption of innocence.
