Amnesty: Mirsaidov release victory

The statement, published by Amnesty International on 22 August 2018, reports that a Tajikistani court released independent journalist Khayrullo Mirsaidov after more than eight months in detention for making allegations of government corruption. Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, is quoted calling the release welcome but stating he should never have been charged and urging authorities to quash the conviction and investigate his corruption allegations. The background section of the document reports that Mirsaidov was arrested on 5 December 2017 in Khudzhand, the main city of Soghd Region in northern Tajikistan, on charges including embezzlement or misappropriation of state funds, forgery of documents, making deliberately false accusations and inciting national, racial, regional or religious enmity, with the latter charge later dismissed. Amnesty states it has reason to believe his admission to embezzlement and forgery charges was made under pressure. The document notes Mirsaidov’s November 2017 open letter to the President, Prosecutor General and Soghd Region Chairman alleging corruption. On 11 July 2018, a northern Tajikistan court sentenced him to 12 years in prison and a 124,000 somoni (US$13,500) fine. On 22 August 2018, Soghd Regional Court on appeal replaced jail with an 80,000 somoni (US$8,500) fine under Articles 245 and 340 and one year of community service under Article 346.