Front Line Defenders: Mirsaidov detained

The case file, compiled by Front Line Defenders, documents the prosecution of Tajik independent journalist and human rights defender Khayrullo Mirsaidov. According to the report, Mirsaidov had worked as an independent journalist and political analyst for 17 years, reporting for Deutsche Welle, Asia-Plus and Fergana, and delivered media training for OSCE, UNDP, DFID and the Index on Censorship. The report states that on 10 November 2017 he published an open letter to President Emomali Rahmon, Prosecutor General Yusuf Rahmon and Sughd regional head Abdurakhmon Kodiri, asking them to investigate alleged attempts by Olim Zohidzoda, head of the Sughd Department of Youth and Sport, to solicit a US$1,000 bribe from funds allocated to a local youth satirical comedy troupe managed by Mirsaidov. On 5 December 2017 the regional Prosecutor General’s office arrested him in Khujand on charges of embezzlement (Article 245 part 4b), incitement of interethnic, national or religious hatred (Article 189 part 2g), forgery (Article 340 part 1) and providing false testimony (Article 346 part 2a), carrying up to 21 years. On 11 July 2018 Khujand City Court sentenced him to 12 years in a strict-regime colony; the embassies of the UK, Germany, France, the US and the EU Delegation expressed “grave concern” the same day. On 22 August 2018 Sughd Regional Court overturned the 12-year sentence and released him after nine months detention, upholding guilt and imposing a 80,000 somoni fine (around €7,300) plus two years of “public utility work” with 20 per cent of salary paid to the state. On his release he was required to sign a non-departure undertaking. The report states that he travelled to Georgia in mid-October 2018 for health reasons and was sentenced in absentia on 11 January 2019 to eight months in prison for “unauthorised departure”. Front Line Defenders characterises the prosecution as linked solely to his peaceful exposure of corruption. Source cited: Front Line Defenders case file.