| Jahongir Otajonov | |
| Native Name: | Жаҳонгир Отажонов |
| Native Name Lang: | uz |
| Birth Date: | 29 September 1978 |
| Birth Place: | Xorazm Region, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic |
| Party: | Erk Democratic Party |
Jahongir Otajonov (Uzbek Cyrillic: Жаҳонгир Отажонов; born 29 September 1978) is an Uzbek singer, musician, songwriter who ran as a candidate in the 2021 Uzbek presidential election.
Otajonov was born and raised in the Xorazm Region in the northwest of what was then the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.[1] His uncle, Ortiq Otajonov, was a noted musician who was named as the People's Artist of Uzbekistan in 1991, as well as of Turkmenistan and Karakalpakstan in 1993.[2]
Otajonov was educated at the Glier Music School in Tashkent. He later graduated from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan.
Otajonov gained popularity in Uzbekistan as a singer-songwriter with songs including "Arazlamang", "Oq kabutarlar", and "Dogʻman".[3]
On 20 January 2021, shortly after announcing his retirement from music, Otajonov declared his intention to stand as a candidate in the 2021 Uzbek presidential election on Instagram.[4] [5] He pledged to transform Uzbekistan into "the best country in Central Asia".[6]
In accordance with Uzbek electoral rules stating candidates must stand as part of a registered political party, Otajonov initially announced he would be standing as the candidate for the newly established centre-right Xalq Manfaatlari party; by February 2021, he announced he had left the party following internal disagreements.
In March 2021, Otajonov temporarily moved to Istanbul, Turkey, following harassment from pro-government protestors. While there, he reported being physically harassed by unknown individuals believed to be affiliated with the Uzbek government.[7] [8]
In April 2021, the banned Erk Democratic Party named Otajonov as a potential candidate for their presidential nomination; he was declared the party's official candidate in May 2021. That same month, Otajonov returned to Uzbekistan.[9] [10] During this time, a video of Otajonov's mother went viral on social media, wherein she asked him not to become a "traitor to the Motherland" by running as the Erk candidate; some queried whether she had been forced to say this by the Uzbek government operatives.[11]
On 27 June 2021, Otajonov was convicted of insulting police officers on social media.[12] This followed Otajonov complaining after his car was impounded by police following a political event.[13]
On 12 July 2021, Otajonov officially withdrew his candidacy from the presidential election, citing the pressures and dangers exposed to his family after a mob attacked a political meeting held between him and members of Erk.[14] He also announced he would be retiring from politics altogether.[15]
On 20 October 2021, shortly before the presidential campaign was scheduled to take place, Otajonov was banned from leaving Uzbekistan after attempting to board a flight to Turkey. Otajonov stemmed this was politically motivated, and stemmed from a false accusation that he had failed to pay child support.