On August 14, Zo‘r TV reporter Nurzodbek Vohidov and cameraman Sardorbek Yuldoshev were beaten when they tried to film a report about the collapse of five beams of the overpass under construction near the Tashkent airport. According to the MIA press service, a criminal case has been initiated.
A criminal case was initiated under Article 277-1 (Hooliganism) of the Criminal Code by the Department of Safety in Transport and Tourism Facilities in connection with the infliction of injury to the employees of the television and radio company. An investigation is currently underway.
According to it, when an act related to intentional disregard of the rules of behavior in society, beating, causing minor bodily harm or causing damage to another’s property is committed, such an act may be punished with:
• a fine in the amount from 50 to 100 BCAs (currently 16.5-33 million soums) or;
• compulsory community service up to 300 hours or;
• correctional labor for up to 3 years.
In the video that was circulated on social networks recently, it can be seen that Nodir Eshniyozov, the work manager of the 67th bridge construction squad, used obscene words towards the journalists, ordered them to leave the area, and then attacked the cameraman.
The journalist warned that expensive equipment could be damaged, but the worker demanded permission to film and then assaulted the cameraman again.
Uzbekistan Railways company (which owns the trust “Kuprikkurilish”, which is the main contractor of the project) strongly condemned the actions of the project manager N. Eshniyozov and announced that he was fired.
The Agency for Information and Mass Communications under the presidential administration has expressed its strong condemnation of any harassment of media workers and obstacles to journalistic activity.
Earlier, it was reported that a criminal case was opened and three officials were arrested. The damage is estimated at 2.76 billion soums (video of the collapse).
Uzbekistan Railways JSC reported that on the day of the collapse, the beams collapsed due to “carelessness” during installation. Train traffic was not affected as the beams fell on the sidings.
At the end of July, Gazeta.uz gave detailed information about the reconstruction project, which was presented to the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
