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Complaint against Tajik Officials Filed with International Criminal Court

For many years now, Tajikistan’s government has been ruling the country as it wishes and ignoring all criticism of the many rights violations being committed in Tajikistan. On April 10, two NGOs -- the Ukrainian Fund of International Volunteers and Freedom for Eurasia -- and the banned Tajik opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) filed a complaint with the international Criminal Court (ICC). The complaint accuses Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his government of committing crimes against humanity. IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri said, “We hope the (ICC), (after considering) our complaint, will begin procedures for opening a criminal case and arresting the perpetrators, including the top leadership of Tajikistan.” A Big Problem That’s Getting Worse Evidence provided in the complaint covers the period from 2002 to 2024, but events only in the last few years tell the story of the impunity with which Tajik authorities have acted toward their citizens inside and outside Tajikistan. In May 2022, the Tajik government responded to peaceful protests in eastern Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) by implementing a counter-terrorism operation that saw dozens, at least, of locals killed, and hundreds detained. Tajik authorities arrested people who were not involved in the protests: lawyers, activists, artists, and journalists. More than a dozen Pamiris were detained in Russia and forcibly deported back to Tajikistan where they were immediately detained and soon after, convicted and imprisoned. GBAO is home to the Pamiris, a group of more than 200,000 who have been living in the remote Pamir Mountains for centuries. They are Shiite Muslims, not Sunnis as most ethnic Tajiks are. Pamiris have their own languages and a unique culture. GBAO has been a restive area since Tajikistan became independent in late 1991, mainly because the Pamiris prefer to govern their territory according to their own age-old customs and have been resistant to the government’s attempts to exert control over the region. Less than three years since the counter-terrorism operation, Pamiri culture is in danger of disappearing. Pamiris are followers of the Aga Khan. During more than 30 years of Tajikistan’s independence, the recently deceased Aga Khan IV Prince Karim spent more than $1 billion on projects in GBAO, which is the poorest region in Tajikistan. Since 2022, the government has seized or is currently trying to seize nearly everything the Aga Khan Development Network built or established in GBAO. The hotels, schools, including the University of Central Asia in the GBAO capital Khorog, a medical center, the park in Khorog, and other objects financed by the Aga Khan are all coming under state control. Locals are forbidden from having portraits of the Aga Khan in their homes. Rahmon is preparing his eldest son, Rustam Emomali, to become Tajikistan’s next president. In advance of the widely-expected transfer of power, Rahmon has been clearing away any potential opposition. The IRPT was banned and declared by a Tajik court to be an extremist group a decade ago, despite the party having been part of the government during the previous 18...

Justice Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Justice

TikToker Arrested for Insulting Uzbek Citizens Online

Valeriy Yugay, a TikToker from Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region known online as Abdullah, has been arrested after making a series of offensive videos targeting Uzbek citizens while abroad. According to Bobur Tulaganov, spokesperson for the Tashkent Regional Department of Internal Affairs, Yugay recorded and published the videos during his stay in South Korea in October and November 2024. In the videos, he allegedly insulted Uzbeks, made statements that could incite ethnic hatred, and expressed disrespect for national values and religious beliefs. Yugay was returned to Uzbekistan on March 25, arriving on a flight from Abu Dhabi to Samarkand, where he was immediately detained by law enforcement authorities. A criminal case has been opened against him under Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, and a court has ordered his pre-trial detention while the investigation proceeds. The 26-year-old reportedly made several inflammatory statements, including denying the legitimacy of the Uzbek state, expressing regret about being born there, and vowing never to return. In one particularly controversial video, he insulted Uzbek women and claimed he would harm his own mother in exchange for social media likes and followers. The Internal Affairs Department stated that his remarks sparked widespread public outrage across Uzbekistan. Following his arrest, Yugay admitted guilt and issued a public apology. “I, Valeriy Yugay, insulted our people on social media. I did it for attention and recognition. But now I realize my mistake and deeply regret it. I sincerely apologize to everyone,” he said.

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Kyrgyz Authorities Arrest Critic of Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border Agreement

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan earned international praise last month when they signed a border agreement ending years of tension that had sometimes spilled into deadly violence. A recent arrest in Kyrgyzstan suggests that authorities are sensitive to any criticism of a deal that was widely hailed as a big step for closer ties among Central Asian countries. Kanyshai Mamyrkulova, who has been described by Kyrgyz media sources as a journalist and an activist, was arrested on March 20, a week after President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan and Emomali Rahmon, Tajikistan’s leader, signed the peace agreement following painstaking negotiations over the delineation of the nearly 1,000-kilometer border between the two countries. This week, a court upheld an earlier ruling that Mamyrkulova be held in pre-trial detention until May 19, in one of the latest cases in Kyrgyzstan that pits advocates of free speech against a government that increasingly views unfettered opinions and alleged disinformation as a threat to national stability. While critics warn that Kyrgyzstan is clamping down on free expression, the environment there is relatively looser than in Tajikistan, where the state exercises tighter controls over the media. Mamyrkulova appears to have fallen foul of the authorities for critical posts on social media rather than any journalistic reports. She spread “false information regarding the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border issue” on Facebook, the Bishkek city police department said last month. “The individual made calls aimed at destabilizing the socio-political situation in the Kyrgyz Republic by inciting mass disorder and promoting interethnic hatred between citizens of Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries,” the department said. It added that Mamyrkulova had “previously been held accountable for similar actions — spreading misinformation and escalating tensions during past incidents involving border issues between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek republics.” A review of some of Mamyrkulova’s Facebook posts reveals a stream of comments and barbs about alleged corruption, official wrongdoing, and prosecutions, often delivered with cheeky humor. Some are indirect or use metaphors to make a point. Several that refer to the border agreement suggest the Kyrgyz government was not transparent enough with its citizens and imply that Tajikistan got the better of the deal. In a letter released last week, Mamyrkulova said she hadn’t done anything wrong. “I did not kill anyone, did not steal from the state, and did not take bribes. I’ve only posted about legal, political, economic, and social issues affecting the public. Regarding the criminal charges brought against me under Article 278 (part 3) and Article 330 (part 1) of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic — I have never committed, nor will I ever commit such crimes,” she said in the statement, which was posted on the Facebook account of supporter Amanbol Babakulov. “They spun a criminal case from thin air simply because I wrote what the public was thinking, in a way that struck a nerve. I know this well myself — as do the lawyers, the attorneys, and those who work closely with the justice system,” she said. The Media Action Platform of...

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UN Calls on Turkmenistan to Probe Suspected Poisoning of Journalist Soltan Achilova

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has called on Turkmenistan to launch an independent investigation into alleged attempts to poison 75-year-old journalist and human rights activist Soltan Achilova and her family members. The appeal was published on the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “These are extremely serious allegations which, if confirmed, would constitute a violation of Achilova's right to life,” Lawlor stated. “Authorities have an obligation to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.” The alleged poisoning incident occurred in November 2024 when Achilova and her daughter were forcibly hospitalized in an infectious disease clinic on the day they were scheduled to leave the country. Phones were disconnected, and security personnel were reportedly present at the hospital, leading Lawlor to suspect a deliberate attempt to block their departure. “The forced hospitalization of Achilova and her daughter on the day of their departure suggests an attempt to prevent them from traveling,” she said. Lawlor also cited disturbing conditions during their detention. For the first three days, they were not given food, water, or hygiene products. “Such treatment seems to be aimed at further humiliating and intimidating them,” she added. Long-Term Harassment and Intimidation Achilova has endured years of state pressure, including surveillance, travel bans, and property damage. Her phone and online activities are reportedly monitored, and she has not received alternative housing or compensation since her home was demolished in 2006. In both 2017 and 2024, unknown individuals vandalized her family’s property, breaking the windows of her son’s car, but the authorities did not investigate. “Gurbansoltan Achilova has faced years of harassment and intimidation, including previous travel restrictions, concerns that we have already raised with the government on June 19, 2020, and January 11, 2024,” Lawlor said. “Given our repeated appeals, I expect more than another letter refuting the allegations. The authorities must immediately stop all harassment and guarantee Achilova's safety and her ability to work and travel freely.” A Voice for Independent Journalism Soltan Achilova is one of Turkmenistan’s last independent female journalists publishing under her real name. Since 2006, she has been subjected to repeated threats, surveillance, and attacks. In 2023, her passport was deliberately damaged before she could travel to Geneva. In another incident in November 2024, as she prepared for an international trip, unidentified men in white coats broke into her home. One reportedly seized her keys and told her, “Why do you need a key in the other world?” before forcibly taking her to a medical facility. Repression Amid Global Scrutiny Turkmenistan ranks among the worst countries for press freedom, placing 175th out of 180 in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. The report highlights the systematic persecution of the nation’s remaining independent journalists. The UN continues to monitor Achilova’s case and has urged the Turkmen government to take meaningful steps to end harassment and ensure her safety. The international community is watching closely...

Justice Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Justice

Belgium Transfers $108 Million in Seized Assets to State Treasury Following Uzbek Corruption Probe

On March 28, 2025, the Brussels Public Prosecutor instructed Belgium’s Central Office for Seizure and Confiscation (COSC) to transfer $108 million in confiscated assets to the Belgian state treasury. The funds, now officially the property of the Belgian government, were seized in connection with an international corruption investigation linked to Uzbekistan. The case stems from a years-long probe into illicit payments and bribes tied to telecom contracts in Uzbekistan. The funds were allegedly laundered and routed through various jurisdictions before being frozen in Belgium at the request of Uzbek authorities. The investigation, based on international legal cooperation and the UN Convention Against Corruption, initially led to the freezing of approximately $200 million. A Dutch-language court in Brussels later ruled that the full amount, including accrued interest, should be permanently confiscated. The court also ordered the funds to be split between Belgium and Uzbekistan, applying a restitution model similar to those used among European Union member states. As a result, another $108 million is expected to be transferred to Uzbekistan in the near future. In 2022, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Justice Muzraf Ikramov publicly stated that assets worth $240 million, linked to a criminal group associated with Gulnara Karimova, had been located in Belgium. He noted that cooperation between Uzbek and Belgian law enforcement agencies had been established to facilitate their return. When contacted by Kun.uz for comment, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice said that details of the investigation remain classified. “Since the investigation process in Belgium is not over, and due to the confidentiality rules, it is not possible to disclose much information about these assets,” a ministry official said.

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Three Spaniards, One Australian Detained at Baikonur Cosmodrome

The Baikonur Cosmodrome in a remote part of Kazakhstan has long held allure for people – trespassers included - who are intrigued by its storied role as a facility that pioneered early space exploration and remains a vital part of Russia’s space program. Three Spanish citizens and one Australian were detained while trying to get into a restricted area housing old space infrastructure at Baikonur on Tuesday night, reported RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency. It cited an unidentified source. Another Russian media organization, Tass, later reported that the Spaniards had been released and that the Spanish embassy in Astana was working to help them. Tass did not report on the status of the Australian. The attempted break-in at the Russian-run base occurred in the area of the disused assembly and refueling complex of the Buran spacecraft, a space shuttle that was developed in the 1970s and 1980s by the Soviet Union, whose leaders were concerned that the U.S. space shuttle program posed a possible military threat. The Buran flew once in 1988, but the program was abandoned because of high costs and a lack of purpose. In 2022, British YouTuber Benjamin Rich documented his trip to Baikonur, where he was also detained by Russian authorities. The journey involved walking with a companion for many hours across the desert, shielding themselves from the sun with umbrellas. They were able to enter the decrepit Buran hangar and see the space shuttle but got caught by guards as they were leaving the facility. Rich said he and his companion paid a fine of $50 each and were released. Last year, RIA Novosti reported that two French citizens tried to reach Baikonur by the same method, but one died of dehydration during the arduous journey on foot. The first man to go into space, Yuri Gagarin, and the first woman, Valentina Tereshkova, took off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, which is run by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, under an agreement with the Kazakh government. Russia continues to launch spacecraft from there, sometimes in joint missions with NASA. The first launch from Baikonur in 2025 occurred on Feb. 28, when a Soyuz rocket hoisted a Russian spacecraft carrying three tons of food, fuel and other supplies that were delivered to the International Space Station.