Радио Озоди: Tajik Prosecutor General's Office reveals details of cases against GBAO civil activists

Radio Ozodi / Azattyq Asia article published 27 January 2023 summarises a statement issued by the press centre of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Tajikistan on 26 January 2023 disclosing details of criminal cases against Pamiri civil-society activists. The article states that the authorities confirmed the trials were held in closed session.

Named defendants and outcomes reported via the Prosecutor General’s Office:

• Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva (Ульфатхоним Мамадшоева) — convicted on ten Criminal Code articles, including organising a criminal community, murder, terrorism, treason and attempted unlawful seizure of power; sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment (relatives had said 21). The article states she was detained on 18 May 2022 in her Dushanbe flat by state-security officers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs statement linked her with Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov (Мамадбокир Мамадбокиров) and Alim Sherzamonov (Алим Шерзамонов). Before arrest, Mamadshoeva told Radio Ozodi and Current Time she had committed no unlawful acts.
• Faromuz Irgashev (Фаромуз Иргашев) — jurist and unregistered 2020 presidential candidate; charged with organising a criminal community, attempted murder, terrorism and organising extremist activity; sentenced by the Supreme Court to 29 years (prosecution had sought 30).
• Manuchehr Kholiknazarov (Манучехр Холикназаров) — chair of the Pamir Lawyers Association; sentenced to 16 years for organising a criminal community and for activity of an extremist organisation.
• Khursand Mamadshoev (Хурсанд Мамадшоев), member of “Commission 44,” and blogger Khushruz Jumaev (Хушруз Джумаев) are also mentioned as subject to disclosed case details.

The article names journalists Anushervon Aripov (Анушервон Арипов), Nasim Isamov (Насим Исамов), Mulloradzhab Yusufzoda (Муллораджаб Юсуфзода) and Barot Yusufi (Барот Юсуфи) as being attacked and having equipment seized by plain-clothes persons after an interview with Mamadshoeva. The article also cites Kholbash Kholbashev (Холбаш Холбашев) as named in the MVD statement, references a Human Rights Watch appeal of 23 August 2022 calling on Tajikistan to cease arbitrary arrests and unfair trials of GBAO residents, and reports 29 persons killed officially during the “counter-terrorism” operation in Khorog and Rushan, with Radio Ozodi sources citing at least 34.