An independent Uzbek journalist who worked for Western media outlets was sentenced to 10 years in prison on drug charges Friday, his lawyer said, in a case condemned by human rights groups. Solijon Abdurakhmanov, 58, was convicted of drug possession with intent to sell but claimed the case was fabricated as revenge for his reporting, which was often critical of the authorities, lawyer Rustam Tulaganov told AFP.
"He pleaded not guilty, telling judges that the drugs were planted in his car by police and the case against him was related to his professional activities as a journalist," Tulaganov said. The lawyer said he would appeal against the verdict, which was delivered by a court in Nukus, capital of the Karakalpakstan region, located in the west of the Central Asian nation.
Abdurakhmanov was arrested in June when traffic police stopped his car and said they found 114 grams of marijuana and nearly five grams of opium. Abdurakhmanov worked for Uznews.net, an independent Uzbek news website, as well as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting.
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