Tajikistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tajik Political Activist Sentenced to 8 ½ Years in Prison

A court in Dushanbe has sentenced Nizomiddin Nasriddinov, a former activist of the Group 24 opposition movement, to 8 1/2 years in prison on a charge of making public calls to forcibly change Tajikistan's constitutional order, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reported. According to an anonymous source involved in the trial, RFE/RL was informed on October 5th that the Ismoili Somoni district court delivered Nasriddinov's verdict and sentence on September 29th. The source added that the former activist pleaded not guilty. Court officials and Nasriddinov’s relatives declined to comment on the matter. The court requested RFE/RL to submit an official letter for comment. Recently, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights Watch, Freedom for Eurasia, and Freedom Now jointly urged Tajik authorities to drop what they deemed as "fabricated" charges against Nasriddinov and release him immediately. Nasriddinov was detained by Belarusian authorities in January at the request of Dushanbe when he entered Belarus from Lithuania. Subsequently, he was extradited to Tajikistan in July. Notably, Nasriddinov holds refugee status in Germany. His affiliation with Group 24, which was designated as a terrorist and extremist organization and banned in the tightly governed former Soviet republic in 2014, has been highlighted. In March 2015, the movement's founder, businessman Umarali Quvatov, was assassinated in Istanbul. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, known for his nearly 30-year firm grip on the Central Asian nation, has faced criticism from international human rights groups. They accuse his administration of disregarding independent media, religious freedoms, civil society, and political diversity. In the past year, Tajik courts sentenced seven journalists and bloggers to prison terms ranging from seven to 21 years. They were charged with spreading false information, involvement in extremist activities, and association with banned groups. Both the accused and their supporters, alongside human rights organizations, have labeled these charges as baseless and politically motivated

Tajikistan Justice Tajikistan Local Politics Tajikistan

Tajikistan Reports Killing of Three Militants Crossing Afghan Border

Tajikistan has confirmed the killing of three individuals from a "terrorist group" who infiltrated the country from neighboring Afghanistan. Announced on September 6th by the KDAM security service, this incident marks the second occurrence of its kind this year. The three individuals made the crossing overnight on August 30th with the intention of “committing a terrorist act ahead of Tajikistan's national holiday” on September 9th, according to a KDAM statement. Identified as Tajikistan natives, the trio was neutralized early on September 5th. The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan has heightened apprehensions about potential instability in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan Local Politics Tajikistan Tajikistan Features

USAID Increases Access to Clean Water in Sughd

According to a press release on its website, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has rehabilitated a drinking water supply system in Soycha Village of the Bobojon Gafurov District. The system will now provide 3,246 residents, including a medical facility, with safe drinking water. USAID provided technical assistance to improve the village’s water management capacities, support physical upgrades to the system, and work with the community to help them better understand the benefits of having clean water piped directly to their homes. At the inauguration of the supply system on October 6, USAID Tajikistan Mission Director Peter Riley said, “We believe that everyone has the right to clean drinking water. Today, we can celebrate a tangible improvement of the water supply system in Soycha Village. I have seen houses using water meters, and talked with households about what it means to have reliable access to water.” The U.S. Government will continue to increase access to safe drinking water across all regions of Tajikistan, the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan said. In the last five years, USAID has rehabilitated and constructed 25 drinking water supply systems throughout the country, providing more than 80,000 people with safe drinking water.

Tajikistan Justice Tajikistan Local Politics Tajikistan

Relatives of Exiled Tajik Activists Arrested

As per RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, Tajik authorities have apprehended relatives of several self-exiled activists following an incident where President Emomali Rahmon's vehicle was targeted with eggs during his visit to Berlin last week. The activists said that family members of Sharofiddin Gadoev, Dilshod Sharifov, Ismoil Mahmadov, Jamshed Sharifov, Behruz Taghoizoda, and Muhammadjon Abdulloev—all affiliated with the opposition Group 24—were taken into custody over the weekend on unspecified charges. The incident involving Rahmon’s car occurred while he and leaders from four other Central Asian nations were in Berlin on August 29 for discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Environment Tajikistan Life & Culture Tajikistan Tajikistan Environment

USAID and Aga Khan Foundation Improve Access to Water and Sanitation in Bartang Valley

As outlined in a press release on its website, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in partnership with the Government of Tajikistan completed and inaugurated a new drinking water supply system and a school latrine in two villages of Rushan’s Bartang valley. The drinking water supply systems will provide uninterrupted access to clean water for 72 households (397 people) in Pasor and Bopasor villages. Additionally, 40 schoolchildren and teachers will have access to sanitary toilets in school #40 of Bopasor village, the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan said. In the remote mountainous villages of Pasor and Bopasor, lack of access to potable water was a significant problem. Although the villages are blessed with an abundance of water, the absence of infrastructure forced the residents to fetch water from a distance of 500-800 meters at an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level during harsh winters that last for five months. The USAID and AKF joint partnership, Thrive Tajikistan, works hand-in-hand with the Government of Tajikistan and people of the Bartang Valley to tackle this monumental challenge. To date, Thrive Tajikistan has provided 14 potable water supply systems and 14 school latrines in Farkhor, Hamadoni, Nosiri Khusrav, Panj, Qubodiyon, Roshtqala, Shahritus, and Rushan districts. These systems provide 43,558 people with access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene services to 8,344 people. The five-year (2018-2023) “Thrive Tajikistan: Partnership for Socio-Economic Development” program expands the partnership between USAID, AKF and the Government of Tajikistan to improve the quality of life for people in all 16 districts of Tajikistan along the country’s border with Afghanistan in Khatlon province and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast.