Asia Plus: Property of detained politicians seized

The report states that on 31 July 2024 Asia Plus, citing Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service (Radio Ozodi) reporting of 30 July, published an account of Tajik authorities seizing the property and freezing the bank accounts of a group of recently detained prominent political figures and their close relatives. According to the report, the individuals affected include former Democratic Party (DPT) chairman and ex-parliament member Saidjafar Usmonzoda; former Supreme Council chairman Akbarsho Iskandarov; former Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi; journalist and DPT deputy chairman Ahmadsho Komilzoda; and Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) deputy chairman Shokirjon Hakimov. The report says the sale or rental of houses, apartments, dachas, cars and other movable and immovable property belonging to these individuals’ families has been prohibited. It records that relatives complained of pressure, including at least one relative who was dismissed from his job on the basis of a letter from official bodies, and that family members have not been permitted to see the detainees since arrest. According to the report, most lawyers are refusing to defend the detainees or their relatives for fear of pressure; only Iskandarov and Hakimov reportedly have independent counsel, though even those lawyers have not been allowed to meet their clients. State-appointed defenders participate in interrogations, the details of which are classified. Usmonzoda was detained in Dushanbe on 12 June 2024 for allegedly “plotting to overthrow the government,” and no official information has been released about the other detentions.