Torture in Tajikistan: A Systemic Problem Demanding Deep Reform

Despite recent legislative improvements and mounting international scrutiny, torture remains a persistent issue in Tajikistan. Experts warn that without comprehensive reform of law enforcement institutions and the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms, the problem is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. Legislative Progress Fails to Translate into Practice Tajikistan has taken some legal steps in recent years to address the issue. Laws have been strengthened, more cases are being investigated, and several police officers have faced prosecution. “In the past two to three years, there has been gradual progress both in legislation and in the review of torture cases,” said Khushbakht Isoev, a torture documentation specialist at the human rights NGO Mir Prava and a member of the Coalition Against Torture in Tajikistan. However, Isoev notes that violent abuse by law enforcement officers, especially during detention, continues to be documented. Most cases never make it to court due to insufficient evidence or pressure on victims to remain silent. 25 Torture Complaints in 18 Months According to data from the Coalition Against Torture, 25 complaints were filed against law enforcement agencies in 2024 and the first half of 2025. The majority, 17 cases, were directed at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while others involved the State Committee for National Security, anti-corruption bodies, and drug control agencies. One complaint named employees of the General Prosecutor’s Office. The geographic distribution of these complaints spans the country: 11 came from Sughd Province, six from Dushanbe, and the remainder from Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) and other districts under direct central administration. Human rights defenders assisted 11 victims in securing legal representation and provided legal consultations to 14 others. They also prepared over 70 procedural documents and issued more than 100 oral legal recommendations. Yet, as Isoev points out, criminal charges are rarely pursued. “Torture is denied and rarely substantiated with evidence,” he said. Since January 2024, only six cases involving law enforcement officers have led to criminal proceedings. One of these cases dates back seven years and was only reopened after the accused was located. Some trials have resulted in sentencing, while others remain under investigation. Still, the number of prosecutions remains disproportionately low compared to the volume of complaints. Structural Barriers to Justice In 2012, Tajikistan introduced Article 143(1) into its Criminal Code, criminalizing torture as a distinct offense. This allowed lawyers and activists to move beyond vague “abuse of power” charges and pursue more precise legal accountability. “Introducing a specific article on torture was a critical step, but it has not addressed the systemic nature of the problem,” Isoev emphasized. One of the key obstacles is the inherent conflict of interest in the investigation process: cases of alleged torture are typically handled by the very agencies whose officers are accused. This creates opportunities for evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and coercion of victims into rejecting legal representation. Many detainees and their families are pressured not to file complaints or to forego legal counsel. Torture cases are often delayed without justification, and victims remain fearful...

Structural Barriers Continue to Hamper Industrial Growth in Tajikistan

Despite recent gains in industrial output, Tajikistan’s full industrial potential remains largely unrealized. Analysts point to a combination of systemic issues that continue to constrain the sector's sustainable development. Growth Driven by Extractive Industries According to the Statistical Agency under the President of Tajikistan, industrial production totaled 18.9 billion somoni in January, April 2025, marking a 25.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. However, this growth was overwhelmingly fueled by the extractive sector, which surged by 90%. In contrast, manufacturing expanded by just 3.5%. While 121 new enterprises were launched during the first four months of the year, disruptions in existing operations and the narrow structure of industrial growth highlight deeper systemic problems. Idle Enterprises and Obsolete Equipment Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir reported that 92 industrial enterprises remained non-operational as of August 2024. Over half have been idle since 2008-2018, with the rest inactive since 2019-2022. The reasons range from financial difficulties and pandemic-related business closures to outdated equipment and low competitiveness. Rising input costs and limited market access further compound the problem. Some sectors, such as textiles and garments, could potentially resume operations, but only with significant modernization. Although some light and food industry enterprises have diversified, others, such as the porcelain factory in Tursunzade, have failed to adapt to changing market conditions. Raw Material Shortages Insufficient raw material supply remains a major bottleneck for several subsectors. The vegetable oil industry, for instance, requires approximately 833,000 tons of oilseeds to produce 100,000 tons of oil. However, domestic output is under 100,000 tons, limiting production to just 25,000 tons, four times below the national requirement. The canning industry faces similar constraints due to an inconsistent supply of fruits and vegetables. Energy Shortages Power outages continue to disrupt industrial output, especially in winter. Cotton processing plants produced 980 tons less fiber in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 due to energy shortages. At the Azot plant in Levakant, production losses translated to a 7.3 million somoni revenue shortfall. Agricultural infrastructure has also been affected: the Land Reclamation Agency reported 130 pump station failures in 2023 alone, caused by voltage surges and sudden power cuts. Declining Cement and Coal Exports Despite advances in cement production, Tajikistan’s export volumes have declined sharply. From January to April 2025, the country exported just 154,000 tons of cement, down from 655,000 tons during the same period in 2024. This marks a 30.4 percent decline compared to the same period in 2023. The decline stems largely from reduced demand in key markets. Uzbekistan’s new cement plants have fulfilled domestic needs and displaced Tajik exports to Afghanistan. Coal exports have also suffered due to increased transit fees. Afghanistan raised its transit tariff from $7 to as much as $50 per ton, leading to a 15,000-ton decline in exports to Afghanistan and a 65,000-ton drop to Pakistan. High Production Costs Undermine Competitiveness High production costs across all sectors continue to undermine Tajikistan’s industrial competitiveness. For example, the...