An administrative case initiated by Uzbekistan's Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov against financier and blogger Otabek Bakirov has been dismissed. The Yashnabad District Criminal Court announced the decision during a session on May 7, according to a Gazeta correspondent.
The court ruled that the statute of limitations for prosecution under the article on spreading false information had expired. The case was closed under Article 36 and paragraph 7 of Article 271 of the Administrative Liability Code, which stipulates that administrative penalties cannot be applied more than one year after the offense was committed, or for ongoing offenses, more than one year after they were discovered.
The minister's complaint targeted Bakirov's publications about gas supply issues at methane filling stations, queues, and the operation of the Avto24 app, which provided real-time information on gas availability at CNG stations.
Earlier, Bakirov had revealed that after a previous criminal complaint by the minister was rejected, he filed a new complaint with the Tashkent City Police Department on December 26, 2024. On January 23, 2026, the police refused to open a criminal case, but on March 25, the city prosecutor's office overturned that decision, sending the materials to the Yashnabad district police for further review.
Bakirov himself viewed the ministry's actions as pressure. In an interview, he stated: "It seems the energy minister has nothing else to do; it's unclear why he keeps filing complaints. If he has so much energy, he should use it to ensure energy stability and address shortages. The ministry is wasting human and administrative resources to silence me, to stop me from speaking out and raising problems. So many police officers, prosecutors, courts, and experts are tied up."
Otabek Bakirov is a financier and author of a Telegram channel where he regularly comments on economic policy, energy, tariffs, subsidies, and the activities of state companies and regulators. His posts often spark public debate.
The case has drawn widespread attention amid ongoing discussions about freedom of speech, criticism of officials, and the limits of public evaluation of government actions. Several journalists, bloggers, and activists have argued that officials should respond to criticism with facts and explanations rather than legal action.
Source: www.gazeta.uz