The court of the Shokhmansur metropolitan district sentenced journalist Abdullo Gurbati to seven years and six months in prison in a penal colony with a high security regime. He was found guilty on three articles incriminated to him, the Independent Center for the Protection of Human Rights reports.

The next court session on the criminal case of Gurbati was held today, October 4, in the administrative building of the pre-trial detention center No. 1 of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Justice behind closed doors.

According to the lawyer, Abdullo pleaded not guilty.

«At the end of the judicial debate, the court gave the last word to the defendant Abdullo Gurbati. He, as before, declared his innocence of the crimes of which he is accused, and denied any involvement in any extremist group. He asked the court to find him not guilty and acquit him, the lawyer said».

However, the Shokhmansur district court found him guilty under Part 1 of Art. 328 (use of violence against a representative of authority), Part 1 of Art. 330 (insulting a representative of the authorities) and Part 2 of Art. 307 (3) (organization of the activities of an extremist organization) of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan and sentenced to a prison term in aggregate.

Recall that earlier the prosecution asked for 8 years in prison for Gurbati.

Abdullo Gurbati's defense announced that he would appeal the verdict to higher courts.