Азаттык Азия: After mysterious deaths of Pamiris in Tajik prisons, calls for sanctions against Dushanbe

Azattyq Asia article published 14 August 2025 reports on deaths of Pamiri detainees in Tajik prisons and on an international call for sanctions against Tajik officials. The article names 35-year-old activist Aslan Gulobov (Аслан Гулобов), who died in June 2025 with the cause recorded as gastric bleeding, three years after being sentenced in August 2022 to life imprisonment in a closed trial for alleged involvement in the killing ten years earlier of a GKNB general. It also names 50-year-old Kulmamad Pallaev (Кулмамад Паллаев), who died in a Dushanbe prison in January 2025 after complaining of stomach pain; 39-year-old Eronsho Mahmadrakhimov (Эроншо Махмадрахимов); and 61-year-old Muzaffar Davlatmirov (Музаффар Давлатмиров). The article states all had been arrested following security-force operations in Rushan (Рушан) and Khorog (Хорог) on terrorism and other charges their relatives denied.

The article reports a joint statement issued on 4 August 2025 by eight organisations: the Anti-Discrimination Centre “Memorial” (Brussels), CIVICUS, International Communities Organisation, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International Partnership for Human Rights, Ligue burundaise des droits de l’homme Iteka, Vuka! Coalition for Civic Engagement, and the World Organisation Against Torture. It cites Tajik Justice Minister Muzofar Ashuriyon (Музофар Ашуриён), analyst Khursand Khurramov (Хурсанд Хуррамов), and GBAO-origin opposition figure Alim Sherzamonov (Алим Шерзамонов). The article states President Emomali Rahmon pardoned 897 prisoners in March 2025 but not GBAO activists. Names listed by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention as requiring release include Faromuz Irgashov (Фаромуз Иргашов), Manuchehr Khaliknazarov (Манучехр Халикназаров), Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva (Улфатхоним Мамадшоева), Khursand Mamadshoev (Хурсанд Мамадшоев), and Sorbon Yunoev (Сорбон Юноев). The article states the May 2022 protests around the death of Gulbiddin Ziyobekov (Гулбиддин Зиёбеков) resulted in 29 official deaths, up to 40 per UN diplomats, and 34 confirmed by Radio Ozodi.