Russian journalist Alexey Pivovarov, his film crew, and Feride Makhsetova, a journalist from the online publication Hook, were detained in Nukus, Uzbekistan on December 1.
The regional branch of Uzbekistan’s Agency for Information and Mass Communications (AOKA) in Karakalpakstan provided clarification. According to a statement, the team was detained for conducting journalistic activities without obtaining the required accreditation from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs—a violation of Uzbek law.
The detainees were taken to the Nukus City Internal Affairs Department for questioning, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Alexey Pivovarov commented on the situation via his Telegram channel at 9:30 p.m.:
"As I said, we are currently in Uzbekistan. When we were in Nukus, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs invited us for an interview. We talked, told about ourselves and our plans. The staff was polite and treated us properly. Now we are going again. Everything is fine!"
The Russian Embassy in Uzbekistan highlighted the importance of adhering to local regulations, particularly those concerning foreign journalists. The embassy emphasized that media professionals must secure accreditation from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before commencing any journalistic activities in the country. The embassy also confirmed that it had reached out to Uzbekistan’s authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the detention.
Pivovarov, a prominent journalist with extensive experience on Russian networks such as NTV, is known for his investigative programs on post-Soviet countries and international issues via his YouTube channel Redaktsiya. During his trip to Uzbekistan, which he announced in late November, Pivovarov documented aspects of the country’s cotton production process. Before arriving in Nukus, his team visited Samarkand and Tashkent.
According to Uzbekistan's regulations established in 2006, foreign journalists must obtain accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before conducting professional activities in the country. Violations can result in detentions and legal consequences.
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