Parents of Imprisoned Tajik Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova Urge Rahmon to Intervene

The parents of Rukhshona Khakimova, a Tajik journalist sentenced in February 2025 to eight years in prison on charges of treason, have issued an open letter to President Emomali Rahmon, urging him to reconsider their daughter’s case and facilitate her release. Family Appeals for Clemency A copy of the letter, signed by Khakimova’s parents, Zokir Khakimov and Makhsuda Sharopova, was published on social media on May 3. In the letter, the couple described their daughter’s upbringing in a family of educators committed to national values, patriotism, and humanism. Khakimov, a former school director in Kanibadam, and Sharopova, a retired teacher, emphasized their daughter’s achievements. “Our daughter graduated from school and university with honors, received a presidential scholarship, and always worked honestly and within the law,” they wrote. “We can say with complete confidence that Rukhshona could not have committed treason.” They appealed to Rahmon to intervene, especially considering that Khakimova is the mother of two young children. “We respectfully request and implore you, as the supreme leader of the nation, to take steps for her release,” the letter states. Background on the Charges Khakimova, 31, was convicted under Article 305, Part 2, Paragraph “c” of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, “treason using her official position.” She was sentenced to eight years in prison following a closed trial. Human rights groups claim the charges were linked to her journalistic investigation into China’s influence in Tajikistan. Complicating the case is the fact that Khakimova is reportedly the niece of an opposition figure sentenced to 18 years for attempting a coup. Prior to her arrest, she had been placed under house arrest, her documents were confiscated, and on February 5, she was detained in the courtroom immediately following the verdict. An appellate court upheld the decision. Subsequently, about 230,000 somoni, savings intended for purchasing a home, were withdrawn from her bank account. On April 22, she was transferred from a pre-trial detention center in Dushanbe to a women’s correctional facility in Nurek. Public and International Reaction Khakimova’s sentencing has sparked condemnation both domestically and abroad. Journalists and human rights advocates described the case as emblematic of worsening conditions for press freedom in Tajikistan. Activists claim she faced repeated threats prior to her arrest. Earlier this year, a group of women and civil society activists also submitted a letter to Rahmon requesting leniency. International organizations including Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, and The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders have called for her immediate release. Despite multiple appeals, Tajik authorities have yet to respond, and the sentence remains in effect.

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...