A court in Tashkent sentenced independent journalist Umida Niyazova to seven years in prison today. Prosecutors had asked the court for an eight-year term. Umida Niyazova was found guilty of illegal border crossing, carrying contraband, and fostering unrest with the help of foreign funding. Niyazova has 10 days to appeal the sentence. Her trial had three hearings since it started on April 19. Rights group have said the charges against Niyazova were politically motivated.