According to “Hook” media today, around 19:00 Tashkent time, the film crew of journalist Alexey Pivovarov was detained in Nukus along withjournalist of “Hook” media Feride Makhsetova. The detention was based on a statement filed by a local resident. The crew is currently held at the Nukus Department of Internal Affairs—they have been allowed to keep their phones, but the authorities are demanding to inspect them. Reporters of the “Hook” media has contacted lawyer Sergey Mayorov to clarify the details of the case.
UPD at 19:13
Alexey Pivovarov is being held in a separate office. The investigator refuses to show the statement and is not answering questions. Reporters of the “Hook” media has reached out to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ press secretary, Shohrukh Giyasov, but has not received a response.
UPD at 19:37
The last contact with Feride Makhsetova was at 19:09. She promised to call back but has not been reachable since. Messages are not being delivered, and calls go unanswered. “Hook” media is preparing a statement to the prosecutor’s office.
UPD at 19:52“Hook” media attempted to contact the General Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan via the hotline listed on their website. The call goes through, but no one answers. Attempts to reach the 1007 hotline also failed, as the automated response system disconnects after a warning about call recording.
UPD at 19:58
The phone of“Hook” media journalist Feride Makhsetova is “out of service.” She has been unreachable since 19:09 Tashkent time. Attempts to contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ press secretary Shohrukh Giyasov have also failed.
UPD at 20:34
Feride Makhsetova has re-established contact with“Hook” medi. Investigators are currently reviewing the material filmed by Alexey Pivovarov’s team in Uzbekistan-who they spoke with and what they filmed. According to Makhsetova, investigators have promised to “release them soon,” but there are suspicions that the crew will only be released at the start of their flight check-in to Tashkent. As a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Feride Makhsetova may still be detained.
UPD at 21:02
The Russian Embassy in Uzbekistan has responded to the detention of Alexey Pivovarov. “The Embassy has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan to clarify the circumstances of the incident. If necessary, we will provide the required support to Russian citizens,” the embassy stated on its Telegram channel.
UPD at 21:12
Alexey Pivovarov’s team and Feride Makhsetova are promised to be released shortly. The film crew was forced to gave to investigators all recorded files. Alexey Pivovarov is an experienced journalist and media manager, known for his documentary projects and independent investigations. He is the founder and chief editor of the media platform “Redaktsiya,” which specializes in in-depth reports and analysis.
Further information on the film crew’s situation and the ongoing investigation will be provided as it becomes available.
UPD at 21:25
Feride Makhsetova and Alexey Pivovarov’s film crew were released from the Nukus Main Department of Internal Affairs.
They are now heading to the airport to check in for a flight to Tashkent. Law enforcement officers have confiscated all footage about Karakalpakstan.
