Court announces verdict on blogger Farhod Mannopov’s death

The verdict was delivered on November 29 by the Uchtepa District Criminal Court, according to a statement from the Supreme Court’s press service. The case centered on events at the private Star Med Center clinic, where Mannopov underwent a medical procedure in March 2023.

The defendants are identified as:

•  A.Kh.: A 42-year-old otolaryngologist from the Kashkadarya region, employed at Star Med Center. He was previously released under a pledge of good behavior.
•  J.Q.: A 44-year-old anesthesiologist-reanimatologist from the Bukhara region, also employed at Star Med Center. He had been under house arrest during the investigation.

Both were acquitted of charges under Article 117, Part 2 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to endangering the safety of others. However, they were found guilty under Article 116, Part 3, for failing to fulfill their professional duties.

The court sentenced both doctors to five years of restricted freedom, with additional penalties barring them from working in their respective medical fields. For J.Q., the duration of restricted freedom was reduced to three years, six months, and 27 days, accounting for time already served under house arrest, as per Article 62 of the Criminal Code.

Mannopov, a 27-year-old blogger known by his pseudonym Mittivine, passed away on March 5, 2023, after undergoing nasal surgery at Star Med Center. He had sustained head and nasal injuries while swimming and sought the procedure to address the damage. Tragically, Mannopov fell into a coma during the operation and never regained consciousness.

The criminal case was filed in September 2023, and court proceedings began the following month. At the request of Mannopov’s family, the trial was closed to media coverage.

The court’s ruling remains subject to appeal within the timeframe and procedures stipulated by law.