Two professors from Law University sue human rights activist Abdurahmon Tashanov over a post criticizing legal academia

Professors Razzok Altiev and Otabek Narziev filed a civil lawsuit against Tashanov over a post titled “I Pity You, Gentlemen!”, published on his Facebook page on February 28, 2025. The case is currently being reviewed at the Mirobod Interdistrict Civil Court, presided over by Judge Behzod Sagatov, according to Gazeta.uz.

According to the claim, Tashanov published the controversial post on February 28 at 23:56, and later edited it multiple times on March 1 at 00:07, 00:26, 00:40, and 05:41. The plaintiffs argue that both the post and comments underneath it contained offensive language that insulted the dignity and tarnished the professional reputation of Altiev, Narziev, and other university faculty members.

Journalists from Gazeta.uz, Daryo, Qalampir.uz, Uzdiplomat, and Paradigma.uz, as well as civil society representatives and officials from the embassies of the U.S., France, Germany, and the UK, along with the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, were denied entry to the court session held on April 11. It was announced that the trial would proceed behind closed doors.

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Abdurahmon Tashanov said he was previously unfamiliar with the two professors who filed the lawsuit.

“They frequently commented on my Facebook posts, calling me ‘unprofessional,’ a ‘sensationalist,’ and a ‘populist.’ On the advice of colleagues and friends, I eventually decided to respond publicly. My post didn’t contain any personal insults. Still, they filed a lawsuit, claiming that their dignity, honor, and business reputation were harmed, and that they suffered 200 million UZS in moral damages,” Tashanov said.

“I’m honestly puzzled — did my post harm the reputation of the university or just these two professors? According to civil law, if I had damaged the university’s image, they should have taken legal action on behalf of the institution. But for some reason, Razzok Altiev and Otabek Narziev filed the lawsuit as private individuals,” he added.

Tashanov also noted that a smear campaign against him began on social media following the Gayrat Dustov case. “For a whole month, trolls used anonymous channels and accounts to attack me with insults. I have filed complaints with law enforcement agencies — the State Security Service (SSS), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Prosecutor General’s Office. Investigations are underway, and some progress has already been made,” he said.

In their lawsuit, the professors are demanding that Tashanov publish a retraction of the post titled “I Pity You, Gentlemen!”, issue a public apology, delete the post, and pay 200 million UZS in compensation for moral damages.

The court has adjourned until Monday, April 14.

As a reminder, in December 2024, the human rights organization “Ezgulik,” headed by Abdurahmon Tashanov, was awarded France’s international “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” Prize. The award was presented to Tashanov by the French Prime Minister on December 10.