HRW World Report: TJ chapter

Human Rights Watch World Report 2026, Tajikistan chapter (Events of 2025), reports that the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan won 49 of 63 lower-house seats in March parliamentary elections — the first since the civil war without independent observers, with OSCE/ODIHR monitoring cancelled in February. The document reports that in February the Supreme Court convicted several prominent figures of high treason: Shokirjon Khakimov (18 years), former Foreign Minister Khamrokhon Zarifi (27), Saidjafar Usmonzoda (27), Ahmadshokh Komilzoda, Akbarsho Iskandarov and Nuramin Ganizoda (18 each). In March President Emomali Rahmon granted amnesty to 897 prisoners, excluding journalists, activists and politicians. The report states that five ethnic Pamiri activists died in custody in the first half of 2025 and that 83-year-old former IRPT member Zubaidullo Roziq died in custody in September. At least six Pamiri activists remain jailed, including Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva (21 years) and Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov (16 years); seven journalists remain imprisoned. The report states the Supreme Court sentenced journalist Ruhshona Khakimova to 8 years in a closed February trial, and Ahmad Ibrohim of Payk to 10 years in January. On religion, authorities obstructed Ismaili mourning in Khorog and Dushanbe in February for Aga Khan IV; in July Ismaili athletes were barred from “Global Encounters Festival” 2025 in Dubai. Deported activists Dilmurod Ergashev (from Germany) and Farkhod Negmatov (from Sweden) received 8-year sentences. The document notes a March 2025 Kyrgyz–Tajik border agreement; 2022 conflict killed at least 37 civilians. In October, Tajikistan hosted ICC suspect Vladimir Putin; the ICC initiated non-compliance proceedings. Internal sources: ODIHR, ICC, UN.