The Sirojiddin Odilov case: why do citizens turn to bloggers for help?

The first official report of a criminal case against Odilov appeared on March 11, 2026. According to the Samarkand Region Department of Internal Affairs, a resident of the Pastdargom district asked Odilov in August 2024 for help resolving a financial dispute with another person.

Although he lacked the necessary authority, Odilov said he would resolve the problem and took money. However, he did not keep his promise.

Initially, it was reported that he was charged under Article 168, Part 3 and Article 211 of the Criminal Code, and that pretrial detention was chosen as the preventive measure. However, during the later court proceedings, the charges were reframed under other articles. Later, charges under other articles were also brought.

Prosecutor sought 6 years

In court, Odilov was charged under Article 165, Part 2, Paragraph "a" of the Criminal Code (repeated extortion), and Article 168, Part 3, Paragraphs "b" and "v" (repeated fraud committed by abusing official position).

On August 4, the trial investigation was completed and the court moved to the parties' closing arguments. On August 11, prosecutor Nodir Jafarov asked the court to sentence Odilov to 6 years in prison. But the case did not end there.

The trial starts over

After judge Sanjar Rasulov was appointed chair of the judicial panel on criminal cases at the Navoi Regional Court, the case was transferred to another court and the trial investigation began again from the start.

Lawyers described this as a delaying move. They said dozens of witnesses and experts would need to be questioned again, which could extend Odilov's time in custody.

The defense said the blogger's health had sharply deteriorated and that he had been held in custody for more than half a year. They asked the court to change the preventive measure to house arrest or another milder measure.

Political motives

On September 24, in the final arguments, prosecutor Ma'ruf Khudoyberdiev said the charges were fully proven and again asked for 6 years. The lawyer insisted on Odilov's innocence.

Human rights activist Abdurahmon Tashanov, who suggested the case may have a political motive, said Odilov's arrest may be linked to his active coverage of the "Gulira'no Qosimova case."

The defense also claimed that the search was conducted unlawfully, that lawyers' rights were restricted, and that some witnesses were brought in "on assignment." The defense asked for Odilov's full acquittal and rehabilitation.

These claims come from the defense and have not been confirmed by the court.

The verdict

On October 5, the Mirzachol District Criminal Court handed down its verdict. Sirojiddin Odilov was found guilty of fraud and extortion and sentenced to 4 years in prison, to be served in a penal settlement colony.

According to the court, the defendant extorted 12 million soums from D. Shamsiyev. He also obtained 30 million soums from G. Jumaniyozova and 33 million soums from R. Khudoynazarov through fraud. The court said the total material damage of 75 million soums has been fully compensated.

The most important question remains open

The court has ruled on Odilov's guilt. But is it enough to view this case only as the criminal case of one blogger?

The reason is that citizens' problems have always been at the center of Sirojiddin Odilov's activity. Some people who turned to him said they did so after their issues went unresolved by the relevant state bodies.

In the first case, a citizen paid for a home but did not receive it by the promised date. He appealed to the relevant agencies but could not resolve the matter. On a friend's recommendation, he then turned to the blogger.

In the second case, a group of residents were dissatisfied with the mahalla chairman because state aid was not reaching those who truly needed it and the area was full of garbage. After receiving no positive response to their appeals from various agencies, they used the blogger's help.

In the third case, a citizen could not agree with a neighbor over ownership and use of a road. When the matter was not resolved through various agencies, the blogger [...].

In all three cases, one thing stands out: the citizen first waited for a solution from the official system, and only then turned to the blogger.

Why does a blogger become the "last resort"?

A blogger is not a state body, judge, investigator or prosecutor. He has no authority to make legally binding decisions. Even so, people sometimes see a blogger as a means of solving their problem.

The reason may lie not in the blogger's power but in citizens' declining confidence that the official system will deliver results. This is exactly what turns the Sirojiddin Odilov case from a personal criminal case into a broader issue.

If a citizen is forced to turn to unofficial figures in front of a camera to claim their rights, the root of the problem lies not only with the blogger.

That is why the key point in this case is not "Why was Siroj Media sentenced to 4 years?" but "Why do some citizens turn to a blogger, rather than a state agency, to solve their problem?" As long as this question goes unanswered, one case may be closed, but the problems will remain problems.