On January 1, 2023, the political opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston” published an article on its social media pages titled “The Mirziyoyev Regime is Killing Uzbek Children”. The article detailed how the kleptocratic Mirziyoyev regime has created a favorable environment in the country for criminals and fraudsters from around the world, who, by selling deadly medical drugs in Uzbekistan, are poisoning children.

In the first few days, the article garnered a significant number of views. However, as of January 5, the website www.erkinuz.democrat became inaccessible in Uzbekistan. When attempting to access the site, users are met with the following message in Uzbek, Russian, and English: “Access to this information resource is restricted in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 707 ‘On Measures to Improve Information Security on the Global Information Network Internet,’ dated September 5, 2018”.

Since the coup d’état and unconstitutional seizure of power in Uzbekistan, the political opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston” has tirelessly exposed, and continues to expose, the crimes of the Mirziyoyev kleptocratic regime, not only through its online platforms but also by participating in global international political forums. Emboldened by his impunity, Mirziyoyev has now crossed all boundaries, attacking the most sacred the Uzbeks have — their children.

When mass cases of child deaths from the lethal drug “Dok-1 Max” began to surface across Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev and his ministers sought to conceal their crimes from the Uzbek people. As we began to publish and reveal the names of those truly responsible, the kleptocratic regime decided to block our website.

No matter what restrictions the Mirziyoyev regime imposes on the people of Uzbekistan to prevent them from obtaining truthful information, it will no longer be able to hide the truth from the public. According to our current information, the number of fatalities from the Indian drug “Dok-1 Max” has already reached 50 children. Dozens of infants and preschool-aged children are in critical condition in intensive care units. We declare with full responsibility that every individual responsible for the deaths of Uzbek children will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law!

The political opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston” demands that the Mirziyoyev regime immediately unblock the website www.erkinuz.democrat, as such methods of combating political opponents undermine the fundamental human right to receive and disseminate information.