Freedom House: Turkey investigate Kuvvatov murder

The press release, issued by Freedom House on 5 March 2015 from Washington, calls on the Turkish government to fully investigate the murder of Tajikistani opposition leader Umarali Kuvvatov, who was shot dead that day in Istanbul. According to the statement by Susan Corke, director of Eurasia programs, the killing has “all the hallmarks of an assassination” and “sends a chilling message to all who dare criticize Tajikistan’s president, Emomali Rahmon.” The report states that Kuvvatov was a Tajikistani businessman who headed the opposition movement Group-24. It notes that in December 2012 he was detained in Dubai at the request of the Tajikistani government and released in September 2013 after a Dubai pardon. In October 2014, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan ruled that Group-24 was an extremist movement and banned its activities and publications. On 20 December 2014, Turkish authorities arrested Kuvvatov in Istanbul in relation to a string of robberies; Tajikistan requested his extradition, but Turkish authorities released him after clearing him of the original charges. The report states that he was seeking refugee status in Turkey at the time of his murder. Country context cited by Freedom House at time of publication: Turkey rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2015, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2014, and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2014; Tajikistan rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2015 and Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2014. Source: Freedom House press release.