Over the past six months, the activities of five public organizations in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) have been terminated, Deputy Minister of Justice Asadullo Khakimzoda said at a press conference on August 8.
While representatives of civil society in GBAO claim increased pressure on them, the authorities note that only those organizations that were associated with local criminal groups have been liquidated.
Hakimzoda said that following the results of inspections of more than 140 public organizations and associations in GBAO, the activities of five organizations in this region were terminated – “Nomus va insof”, the Pamir Lawyers Association, “Pyanj”, “Youth of Ishkashim District” and “Klubi Gushtini Shaidon” .
According to the deputy minister, these organizations were liquidated by a court decision, as “they had connections with criminal groups and were financed by them.”
In May of this year, civil society representatives in GBAO said they were being pressured by the authorities to voluntarily stop their activities. Representatives of at least five public organizations in GBAO, in an interview with Radio Ozodi, said that the security forces demanded that they voluntarily declare themselves bankrupt and liquidate their organizations. However, the Khukumat of GBAO said then that the statement of representatives of public organizations did not correspond to reality.
Last year, the Tajik authorities stepped up pressure on civil society in GBAO. In May, following the events in GBAO, Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov , head of the Pamir Lawyers’ Association, was detained. The Supreme Court of Tajikistan in December 2022 sentenced him to 16 years in prison on charges of “organizing a criminal community” and “organizing the activities of an extremist organization.” Manuchehr Kholiknazarov refused to plead guilty. After the announcement of the verdict, the Association of Pamir Lawyers headed by him ceased its activities.
The public organization Nomus va Sharaf (Honor and Dignity) was liquidated after its founder, Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva, was sentenced to 21 years in prison – she was charged with organizing a criminal community, terrorism, treason against the state, and an attempt to illegally seize power.
Source : Радио Озоди
