Радио Озоди: Прокуратура предъявила официальные обвинения 13 активистам ПИВТ

The article, published by Радио Озоди (Radio Ozodi) on 27 September 2015, reports that on 26 September the Tajik General Prosecutor’s Office formally charged 13 detained members of the High Council of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (ПИВТ / IRPT). Article reports the charges were brought under Article 187, Part 1 of the Tajik Criminal Code (“creation of a criminal community (criminal organisation) for the commission of grave or especially grave crimes”), which carries 15–20 years imprisonment. Article reports lawyer Бузургмехр Ёров (Buzurgmekhr Yorov), head of the Committee for the Protection of the Civil Rights of the Detained IRPT Political Council Members, said he had attended interrogations of his clients and that all defendants denied involvement in the mutiny led by Абдухалим Назарзода (Abdukhalim Nazarzoda) or any criminal organisation. Article reports, via Yorov, that Саидумар Хусайни (Saidumar Husayni), former MP and first deputy IRPT chair, told his lawyer he was not detained on the plane but at the Interior Ministry’s organised-crime department; Husayni is quoted saying officers initially spoke politely and promised official positions (from deputy district chair to minister) in exchange for a televised public announcement of resignation from IRPT. Article reports, via Yorov, that after he refused, officers “placed a bag over his head, beat him, and delivered him to the GKNB SIZO.” Article reports the Committee would provide funded legal defence after lawyers had initially declined over the “political nature” of the case; relatives of Зарафо Рахмони (Zarafo Rahmoni) said six approached lawyers had refused. Article reports the Prosecutor’s formal statement linked detentions to the 4 September 2015 events in which Nazarzoda’s armed group attacked a Vahdat police station and a Dushanbe post, killing 9 Interior Ministry officers; authorities accused IRPT leadership of attempted terrorism to destabilise the country. Article reports IRPT leader Мухиддин Кабири (Muhiddin Kabiri), abroad following the March 2015 parliamentary elections, said charges were unfounded. Article reports Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International expressed concern and demanded fair investigation. Sources cited: Radio Ozodi, Prosecutor General’s Office statement, lawyer Yorov, HRW, Amnesty International.