Human Rights Watch (HRW) asked the German president not to mention the bad situation of human rights in the region during the meeting with the leaders of five Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan.
The respected international organization said in a statement on September 28 that the situation in the region after Russia’s aggression on the territory of Ukraine will probably be one of the main topics of discussion.
“Germany is expected to ask the five Central Asian countries not to agree to Moscow’s efforts to use them to circumvent sanctions,” said Hugh Williamson, director of Human Rights Watch in Europe and Central Asia.
He added, “However, Germany should not miss the opportunity to put pressure on the leaders of Central Asia regarding the very poor human rights situation in the region.”
Human Rights Watch has called on Germany to use its position in Central Asia to show that “respect for human rights and the rule of law is important for a long-term partnership with Europe.”
“In the countries of Central Asia, politically motivated persecutions, suppression of freedom of expression and impunity for torture are widely observed,” said the head of the Human Rights Watch in Europe and Central Asia.
He cited, among other things, the suppression of protests in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 2022, which led to the death of more than 250 people. HRW has criticized the Tajik government for “persecuting the opposition, brutally suppressing dissidents in Badakhshan Mountainous Autonomous Region.”
“The shockwaves caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have prompted Central Asian leaders to seek closer ties with other allies, including Europe,” Williamson said.
He added that Germany should make the most of this new cooperation, “but under conditions that help protect the rights of the people of the entire region.”
The leaders of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will hold talks with the German authorities on September 29. Two weeks ago, they had a meeting with the President of the United States, Joe Biden.
On the eve of Emomali Rahmon’s visit, two opposition organizations of the Tajik government said that they will hold a protest conference. The political opponents of the governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have also said that they will hold demonstrations in Germany along with the meeting of the presidents of Central Asia.
Source : Радио Озоди