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Tajik Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova Transferred to Prison After Closed Treason Trial

Rukhshona Khakimova, a Tajik journalist convicted of treason, has been transferred from a detention center in Dushanbe to a correctional facility in Nurek. The relocation was confirmed by a relative on April 22, who reported being informed of the transfer when attempting to deliver a package to the journalist. Khakimova was sentenced to eight years in prison on February 5, 2025, following a closed-door trial. Her case is among several related to an alleged attempted coup. Despite the prosecution’s request for a 17-year sentence, the court handed down an eight-year term. The judge did not account for Khakimova's family circumstances; she is the mother of two young children, the eldest only two and a half years old, and the youngest nine months. She was taken into custody directly from the courtroom. The case against Khakimova was initiated in June 2024 by Tajikistan’s General Prosecutor’s Office under charges of high treason. The accusation stemmed from a journalistic survey she conducted on China’s influence in Tajikistan. In the course of her reporting, Khakimova interviewed several individuals later implicated in the purported coup case, including former MP Saidjafar Usmonzod, who received a 27-year sentence, and her uncle, Shokirjon Khakimov, sentenced to 18 years. However, her interviews also included individuals unconnected to the alleged conspiracy. Before her arrest, Khakimova was placed under a travel restriction enforced by a signature bond, and all her identification documents had been confiscated. She was living in a rented apartment in Dushanbe. At the time of her arrest, authorities reportedly seized approximately 230,000 somoni ($21,427) from her personal bank account, funds she and her husband had saved toward purchasing a home. Khakimova is one of the few women in Tajikistan working openly with independent media. Her sentencing has become emblematic of the country’s increasing suppression of free speech. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, and The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have condemned her prosecution as a violation of press freedom, and have called for her immediate release. Additionally, a petition signed by 130 women in Tajikistan appealed to President Emomali Rahmon to commute Khakimova’s sentence, urging humane consideration for the mother of two. These efforts, however, have thus far failed to change her legal status.

Tajik Women Rukhshona Khakimova Journalists Prison President Rahmon

Tajik Women Unite to Urge Rahmon to Grant Leniency for Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova

A group of 130 women in Tajikistan have appealed to President Emomali Rahmon, requesting leniency for journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, who was sentenced to eight years in prison. A Plea for Mercy In their appeal, the women expressed deep concern over the fate of Khakimova’s two young daughters, one of whom is an infant still in need of breastfeeding. “This verdict has shaken us to the core, but most of all, it has shattered the lives of her two tiny daughters, Shakhnura and Shukrona, who overnight lost the most precious thing a child has, a mother's love, warmth, and care. Ten-month-old Shukrona was deprived not only of her mother’s hands but also of her mother’s milk, which is not just nourishment but the very essence of the mother-child bond. We cannot imagine the pain of these children, who cannot yet speak but already feel the cruel emptiness that nothing and no one can fill,” the letter reads. The signatories emphasized that they were not calling for the sentence to be overturned but rather for clemency. They urged the government to apply legal mechanisms that would allow Khakimova to serve an alternative sentence while remaining with her children. “We believe there are lawful ways to take her motherhood into account and ensure that two young children are not left without maternal care,” the appeal stated. A Controversial Conviction Khakimova was charged with high treason under Article 305 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, with the case initiated by the General Prosecutor’s Office in June 2024. According to sources familiar with the investigation, her prosecution is linked to a survey on China’s influence in Tajikistan. She was sentenced on February 5 during a closed trial at the Dushanbe detention center, alongside other defendants in the so-called “coup d’état case”. Before the verdict, she had been allowed to remain free, albeit with restricted movement, due to her responsibilities as a mother. However, her documents had been confiscated, preventing her from traveling. Following the court ruling, she was taken into custody immediately. International Outcry International human rights organizations have condemned the sentence. The International Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders) has called for Khakimova’s immediate release. Similar statements have been issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), both of which have criticized the court’s decision.

Crime Criminal Responsibility prisoners Prison Justice Islamic State

Riot in Tajik Prison Leaves Several Inmates Dead

On February 3, a riot broke out in Tajikistan's Vahdat Penitentiary No. 3/2, 15 miles from Dushanbe, resulting in the deaths of several prisoners. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Justice, the incident occurred when nine inmates - convicted over links to Islamic State and the Jihadi Salafi movement - launched an armed attack on prison staff using improvised weapons. “As a result of the attack, three guards were seriously injured,” the ministry’s statement said. The prisoners, armed with makeshift knives, refused to comply with prison authorities and attempted to kill security personnel in an escape attempt. According to the authorities, the prison guards responded with firearms, killing three of the attackers and detaining the others. The injured staff members received medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities also confirmed that security at the facility has been fully restored. While official reports initially listed three inmate fatalities, some sources suggest that the actual number of prisoner deaths may be higher. Condemning the treatment of detainees by officials at the prison, the Civil Committee for the Rescue of Hostages and Political Prisoners of Tajikistan (CCHP) stated that “at least 10 prisoners were killed and a number were injured as a result of guards shooting at prisoners.” Despite reports that the detainees had briefly raised the Islamic State flag over the prison, CCHP claimed that those killed were political prisoners who had no connection to ISIS or any other banned group. History of Prison Riots in Tajikistan This is not the first violent uprising within Tajikistan’s penitentiary system. In May 2019, inmates in the same facility armed with knives took three staff members hostage and killed them. They also executed five fellow prisoners before security forces suppressed the riot. Among those killed was Behruz Halimov, son of Gulmurod Halimov, a former Tajik special forces officer who later joined ISIS. The riot left 29 prisoners dead, and Tajikistan’s Supreme Court subsequently increased the sentences of 28 convicts involved in the incident. ISIS claimed responsibility for the riot. In November 2018, a similar riot occurred in a high-security prison in Khujand, where 21 inmates and two prison staff members were killed. Five guards were also injured. Following an investigation, 33 prisoners stood trial, and nine prison officials, including the warden, received prison sentences for negligence. Broader Security Concerns In recent years, Tajikistan has witnessed numerous escape attempts from detention facilities, though nearly all have ended in failure. Most escape organizers have either been killed during apprehension or recaptured. These recurring incidents highlight ongoing security challenges within the country’s prison system and underscore the need for further reforms to prevent future outbreaks of violence.

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Prisons Being Relocated from Kyrgyzstan’s Major Cities

Construction of a new detention center has begun in Kyrgyzstan’s Chuy region as part of a broader effort to relocate prisons from major urban areas. The facility will replace the aging SIZO-1, which has operated for 50 years in the center of Bishkek. Deputy Chairman of the Correctional Service Kemel Sydykov announced the initiative during a parliamentary session. Many of Kyrgyzstan’s prisons and detention centers were built in the 1950s and 1960s and no longer meet modern standards for housing inmates. In addition to their outdated infrastructure, these facilities occupy valuable city land, prompting authorities to systematically phase them out. “Construction work has begun on the relocation of SIZO-1. The new detention center will be situated in the Issyk-Ata district of Chuy region. We have been given strict deadlines—to complete construction by the end of the year. The vacated land will be transferred to the state,” Sydykov told MPs. Nationwide Prison Relocation Efforts The Correctional Service has been implementing similar projects across the country. Last year, a new detention center was commissioned in the city of Jalal-Abad, designed to meet modern incarceration standards. Sydykov also confirmed that remand centers in Karakol and Osh are set to be relocated, with land already allocated and construction work expected to begin soon. A few years ago, authorities in Bishkek demolished Colony No. 47, which was located on the city's western outskirts. The site was redeveloped into a residential microdistrict with 900 apartments. Notably, former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev served part of his sentence in that facility. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, many detention facilities in Kyrgyzstan fail to meet international standards, underscoring the urgent need for modernized infrastructure.

Legislation Prison prisoners internal affairs

Uzbekistan May Reduce Prison Sentences for Inmates Who Read Books

Uzbekistan is considering a new initiative that would reduce prison sentences for inmates who engage in reading, as part of efforts to promote rehabilitation and personal development. Proposal Details The Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) party has been advocating for this initiative for several years, inspired by similar practices in other countries. According to the party’s press service, a draft law has now been developed to bring the proposal to life. Under the proposed legislation, prisoners who read one book from an approved list and pass an exam on its content could have their sentences reduced by three days. The program would allow inmates to read up to 10 books per year, potentially reducing their sentences by up to 30 days annually. The reading list will be curated and managed by the Republican Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment, ensuring that the selected books align with the program’s goals of fostering intellectual and moral growth. International Inspiration The concept of reducing prison sentences through reading is not unique to Uzbekistan. Last year, Russian politician Vladislav Davankov proposed a similar initiative for inmates in pretrial detention centers and prisons. Davankov argued that reading programs could play a vital role in the rehabilitation and resocialization of prisoners. Kazakhstan has already taken steps in this direction. In 2021, the country launched a pilot project in correctional facilities in the Karaganda region. Under this program, inmates read books from an approved list, retell the content to a commission, and write essays summarizing the material. Positive evaluations by the commission can lead to improved detention conditions or even early release. Broader Implications If implemented, the program in Uzbekistan could serve as a tool to encourage education, personal growth, and rehabilitation among inmates. By focusing on intellectual engagement, the initiative could help prisoners reintegrate into society upon release and reduce recidivism rates. While the draft law is still in the development stage, it reflects Uzbekistan’s broader efforts to modernize its prison system and promote rehabilitation over punishment. If successful, the initiative could become a model for other countries in the region seeking to implement progressive approaches to criminal justice.

Human rights Public Security Ombudsmen Social Services Prison

Kyrgyzstan’s Talas Province Faces Urgent Need for Proper Detention Facility

Kyrgyz Ombudswoman Jamilya Dzhamanbayeva has voiced serious concerns over the substandard conditions in the temporary detention center (TDC) in Talas Province. During a recent visit, detainees reported inadequate facilities and breaches of detention standards, according to the Ombudsman Institute. Dzhamanbayeva revealed that the TDC houses individuals awaiting trial alongside those already charged with crimes—a practice explicitly prohibited under Kyrgyz law. “At the time of the visit, there were 17 individuals suspected or accused of crimes in the TDC, which has a total capacity of 36 people. Among them, two were women. The TDC is situated in the yard of the Department of Internal Affairs, but in a separate building,” stated the Ombudsman Institute. Lack of a Dedicated Proper Pre-Trial Facility The absence of an investigative detention center (IDC) in Talas Province forces authorities to detain pre-trial prisoners in the TDC, mixing them with individuals under investigation. This not only violates national laws but raises significant human rights concerns. During her visit, Dzhamanbayeva inspected the cells and spoke directly with detainees to assess their conditions. She called on the Kyrgyz government to expedite the construction of a dedicated IDC in Talas Province to comply with international standards and Kyrgyz legal obligations. Inhumane Living Conditions The National Center for the Prevention of Torture has also criticized the state of the Talas TDC, identifying severe deficiencies: Lack of natural light: Windows are blocked by metal structures, preventing daylight from entering. Inadequate sleeping arrangements: Detainees sleep on the floor due to a shortage of beds and bedding. Unsanitary environment: The facility suffers from poor hygiene and overall neglect. These conditions exacerbate the already critical situation for detainees, underscoring the pressing issue of detention standards in Talas Province.