Asia-Plus: Верховный суд объявил Группу 24 экстремистской

Asia-Plus article dated 9 October 2014 reporting that Tajikistan’s Supreme Court declared the opposition movement “Group 24”, organised by Tajik citizen Умарали Кувватов (Umarali Kuvvatov) who was then abroad, to be extremist and illegal. The article reports that presiding judge Саломат Хакимова (Salomat Khakimova) announced the court also banned domestic access to the group’s website as a mass-medium outlet, banned the import into Tajikistan of literature about the group’s activities, and banned production of literature and audio/video products about Group 24 inside Tajikistan. The article reports that per a court document obtained by the outlet, analysis of Group 24’s broadcasts found members distributed the “Zello” application via the internet radio channel “Новый Таджикистан-2” (“New Tajikistan-2”) making it accessible to all users. Per the article, Kuvvatov in radio conferences discussed political and economic life in Tajikistan, gave negative assessments of socio-economic conditions, sharply criticised the policies of Tajikistan’s leadership and government, used obscene language against the country’s leadership, and openly called on the population towards destabilisation, mass disorder, and the violent seizure of state power. The article reports the court concluded that the group’s broadcasts and agitation leaflets contained mass calls for the violent seizure and retention of state power and for organisation of extremist activity. The article cites a statement from Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General’s Office that Kuvvatov was suspected of serious crimes including fraud, embezzlement, and was on the wanted list; the Office had applied to the Supreme Court for the extremist designation to preserve peace and stability. The article reports Kuvvatov founded Group 24 after being forced in summer 2012 to leave Tajikistan for Moscow. Sources cited in the article: the court document obtained by Asia-Plus, the Prosecutor General’s Office statement.