HAVE THE STREET LAWS RETURNED?

Freedom of speech and the safety of journalists are among the fundamental criteria of any legal state. However, the incident that occurred in the city of Kokand, Fergana region, is causing serious public concern.

It is reported that the founder of the media outlet «People's Pain», Saidjonov Akmaljon, was threatened with death via an audio recording by a person engaged in the sale of houses under the name "quqon_house", in particular, phrases such as "burn to ashes" were used, and various pressures were exerted.

If this audio recording is genuine and the threats contained therein are confirmed, it should be legally assessed not only as pressure on a journalist but also as a serious incident directed against freedom of speech.

In this regard, we ask the Department of Internal Affairs of the Fergana region to take this situation under special control, to give a legal assessment of the threats in the audio recording, to objectively investigate all circumstances, and to take appropriate measures against the guilty person in accordance with the requirements of the law.

Today, at a time when a decisive fight against crime is being waged in the Fergana region, the public is pondering one question?! Do "street laws" still prevail in Kokand? Or is it the rule of law?