Tashanov loses court case, ordered to pay moral damages

On May 23, the Mirabad District Court for Civil Affairs of Tashkent city concluded the civil case involving Abdurakhmon Tashanov, head of the “Ezgulik” human rights society, and two professors from Tashkent State Law University. QALAMPIR.UZ reviewed the official court decision.

The hearing was held in closed session under the chairmanship of Judge Behzod Sagatov. The plaintiffs, identified as R.A. and O.N., both professors at Tashkent State Law University, filed the lawsuit against Tashanov over a Facebook post dated February 28, in which he wrote, “I feel sorry for you, gentlemen!” They claimed that the post insulted their honor and dignity.

The court partially upheld the plaintiffs' claims. It determined that the statement in question had indeed harmed the honor and dignity of the professors. As a result, Tashanov was ordered to publicly apologize and retract the post.

Additionally, the court ruled that Tashanov must pay 25 million sums in moral damages and 787,000 sums in court costs to plaintiff R.A., and another 25 million sums in moral damages to plaintiff O.N. He was also ordered to pay 750,000 sums in state duties to the government.

Following the ruling, Tashanov commented on social media, stating: “We have left the court. I will pay 50 million sums in moral damages to the teachers of the Law University, state duty and other expenses. According to the court, there is no insult in the case, but there is discrimination.”

It is worth noting that at the end of last year, “Ezgulik” – the only officially registered independent human rights organization in Uzbekistan – was awarded the French “Liberty-Equality-Fraternity” prize.