Azattyk: HRW calls on Tajikistan to drop charges against journalist Rukhshona Hakimova, who faces 17 years

Azattyk Asia reports on 30 January 2025 that Human Rights Watch has called on the authorities of Tajikistan to drop charges against journalist Rukhshona Hakimova (Рухшона Хакимова), who is being tried in Dushanbe in a closed-door hearing on a state-treason charge, with the prosecutor requesting 17 years in prison. The article quotes HRW Central Asia researcher Syinat Sultanalieva (Сыинат Султаналиева) stating that journalists should not face criminal charges for performing their work and calling for Hakimova’s release from house arrest. The article reports that Hakimova is the niece of Shokirjon Hakimov (Шокирджон Хакимов), lawyer, publicist and deputy chair of the opposition Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan, arrested in July 2024 in what is known as the “coup case”. According to the article, all detainees in that case are current or former politicians facing 23–30 years, that Radio Ozodi reported the mass arrests are an attempt to silence critics of president Emomali Rahmon, and that Ozodi stated the criminal case against Hakimova was triggered by her reporting on Chinese influence in Tajikistan; the case is classified. The article reports that Hakimova was not sent to pre-trial detention because she has an infant, but her passport was confiscated and she is under a no-travel pledge; it reports her education at Tajikistan’s National University and prior work with the Tajik Centre for Journalistic Research, “Молодежь Таджикистана” and other media. The article reports that on 10 January 2025 Ahmad Ibrohim (Ахмад Иброхим), chief editor of regional weekly Payk, was sentenced to 10 years on bribery, extortion and extremism charges after an August 2024 arrest. Seven other Tajik journalists currently detained are named: Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva (21 years, 2022, GBAO protest-organisation charge), Abdullo Gurbati, Daler Imomali, Zavqibek Saidamini, Khushruz Jumaev, Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda, Khurshed Fozilov. Sources cited: Human Rights Watch, Radio Ozodi, Azattyk Asia reporting.