HRW: Хакимова журналистке грозит тюрьма

Human Rights Watch Russian-language news release dated 4 February 2025 (with a 5 February 2025 update) reporting on the prosecution of Tajik investigative journalist Рухшона Хакимова (Rukhshona Khakimova). The article reports that on 5 February 2025, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court sentenced Khakimova to 8 years of imprisonment after a closed trial on undisclosed charges classified as “secret”. The article reports Khakimova was arrested in the courtroom and separated from her two young children, one aged 8 months. The article reports a 23 January 2025 press report that Khakimova, a member of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan, could be found guilty of “state treason” in connection with a public opinion survey she conducted on Chinese influence in Tajikistan, and that the case was opened in July 2024. The article reports she faced up to 17 years and had been under house arrest. HRW calls for charges to be dropped and quotes Сыйнат Султаналиева (Syinat Sultanalieva), HRW Central Asia researcher. The article reports Khakimova is the niece of Шокирджон Хакимов (Shokirjon Khakimov), a human rights lawyer and first deputy chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, detained in July 2024 among others charged in the so-called “coup case”; those detainees face 23–30 year sentences. The article reports other press-freedom cases: Ахмад Иброхим (Ahmad Ibrohim), chief editor of the regional weekly “Пайк” (“Payk”), detained August 2024 and sentenced on 10 January 2025 to 10 years after a closed, “secret” trial; Ульфатхоним Мамадшоева (Ulfathonim Mamadshoyeva) sentenced in 2022 to 21 years over GBAO protests; and seven imprisoned journalists including Абдулло Гурбати (Abdullo Gurbati), Далери Имомали (Daleri Imomali), Завкибек Саидамини (Zavkibek Saidamini), Хушруз Джумъаев (Khushruz Jumaev), Абдусаттор Пирмухаммадзода (Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda), and Хуршед Фозилов (Khurshed Fozilov), sentenced to 7–10 years. The article reports ongoing blocking of critical websites including Radio Ozodi and restrictions on accreditation for RFE/RL’s Tajik service. Sources cited include HRW’s own reporting and press reports referenced throughout.