Mediazona: История Группы 24 не работают законы

Mediazona Central Asia long-form article by Александр Григорянц (Aleksandr Grigoryants) tracing the history of the opposition movement “Group 24” against the backdrop of a renewed campaign in Tajikistan since late 2022 against journalists and opposition figures accused of links to the banned organisation. The article reports that at least eight Tajikistanis have received lengthy sentences in such cases, including journalists Далер Имомали (Daler Imomali, 10 years, 17 October 2022) and Завкибек Саидамини (Zavkibek Saidamini, 7 years). The article reports that Group 24 was founded in spring 2011 by businessman Умарали Кувватов (Umarali Kuvvatov), born 26 November 1967 in Dushanbe, who the article reports fell out with Rahmon’s son-in-law Шамсулло Сохибов (Shamsullo Sohibov) and went into opposition. The article reports the Tajik Ministry of Health published a statement in autumn 2012 claiming Kuvvatov had been registered with a psychiatric dispensary since 1998. The article reports Kuvvatov was detained in Dubai and later released; Tajikistan’s Supreme Court declared Group 24 extremist shortly before planned 10 October 2014 protests; internet and mobile services were disrupted during the protest window. The article reports Kuvvatov was shot dead on 5 March [2015] in Istanbul after a dinner at which his family was poisoned (clozapine was reportedly found in their blood); Turkish courts sentenced Сулаймон Каюмов (Sulaymon Kayumov) to life imprisonment. The article reports Шарофиддин Гадоев (Sharofiddin Gadoev) succeeded Kuvvatov and was forcibly returned from Moscow to Dushanbe on 15 February 2019, then released after international pressure and returned to Europe in March 2019. The article also reports Сухроб Зафар (Sukhrob Zafar) became leader in January 2016; Group 24 held protests in Moscow, Paris (8 November 2019, during Rahmon’s visit to Macron), and Prague (December 2016). The article cites Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Radio Ozodi, and journalist Анора Саркорова (Anora Sarkorova).