More Uzbek TV Channels Cease Broadcasting

A television tower looms over a section of the Uzbek capital, Tashkent

Five television channels of Uzbekistan's Nongovernmental Television Network (NTT) have ceased broadcasting, bringing the total number of darkened Uzbek television channels to nine.

Last month, three popular FM radio stations and four television stations belonging to the Terra Group holding company were also shut down.

A daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Gulnara Karimova, wrote on Twitter last week that her Terra Group was being investigated for bribe-taking.

An NTT official, who asked not to be identified, told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service on November 11 that the network's license had been suspended.

The official also confirmed that investigations were launched three weeks ago into alleged financial misdeeds by NTT's director, Firdavs Abduholiqov, who is known as a close associate of Karimova.

His current whereabouts are unknown.