27.1.15

Arrests of the Tajik activists. In Moscow, Maksud Ibragimov is missing.

On January 2015, in Moscow, the leader and founder of the organisation "Youth of Tajikistan for the revival of Tajikistan" Maksud Ibragimov went missing. There is evidence that suggests he was extradited to Tajikistan.

Maksud Ibragimov
Maksud Muhidinovich Ibragimov was born on 3 November 1977 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He is a founder and Chairman of the Russian youth organisation "Youth of Tajikistan for the revival of Tajikistan". He is a member of the governing board of an opposition coalition "New Tajikistan", which includes the "Group 24".

In 2004 Maqsud Ibragimov renounced citizenship of Tajikistan and acquired citizenship of the Russian Federation. He has been in permanent residence in Russia for more than 10 years. In December Ibragimov learned that his "citizenship of the Russian Federation was revoked". According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, a citizen of the Russian Federation can not be deprived of his nationality. Therefore, under the "deprivation of citizenship" one can only understand that Ibragimov’s receiving of the Russian citizenship was declared illegal retroactively. He did not have time to find out why this was the case, because he was busy getting a treatment after the attack by a group of people that resulted in him getting six stab wounds. You can read more about it in our press release "Russia: an attempt on the life of a member of the Tajik opposition Maksud Ibragimov" dated 1 December 2014.The attackers have not yet been found.

Ibragimov is actively engaged in social and political life since 2013. He repeatedly appeared in the media with criticism of the leadership of Tajikistan.

He participated in discussions and conferences, which discussed the situation of young people in Russia. He represented the Tajik youth living in Russia. At the initiative of Tajik youth activists in Moscow and with the support of the Government of Moscow, on 2 September 2014 in "Moscow House of Nationalities", a round table talks entitled "Interaction of public authorities and civil society in matters of harmonisation of interethnic and interfaith relations" took place. Maqsud Ibragimov presented a report entitled “Protecting the rights of migrant workers in modern Russia: the interaction with public authorities and civil society", as a chairman of the organisation "Youth of Tajikistan for the revival of Tajikistan."

Tajik authorities responded to Maksud Ibragimov’s political activity and popularity among young people and his supporters.

  • On 26 November 2014 in Moscow, he received six stab wounds. There were two assailants, they fled.
  • On 20 January 2015 he went missing in Moscow, although after the attack on him, he was guarded by Russian law enforcement agencies.
  • On 23 January 2015 in the Department №54 of Moscow City of the Minisstry Internal Affairs Ibragimov’s mother was told that he was detained and released the same day.
  • On 26 January 2015 a source at the Preobrazhenskiy District Court of Moscow, who wished to remain anonymous, told Ibragimov’s relatives that he was extradited to Tajikistan.
Attempts to get an official response from the public authorities of Russia about the whereabouts of Maksud Ibragimov continue.

  • Since November 2014 in Russia arrests of natives of Tajikistan - activists of "Youth of Tajikistan for the revival of Tajikistan" are taking place. They began when the Russian Ministry of Justice refused to register the organisation. Its members are natives of Tajikistan, mostly migrant workers, some of whom became Russian citizens
  • All those who openly criticised the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, at home face prosecution under Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, "Public appeals to change the constitutional order of the Republic of Tajikistan". Such acts constitute crimes against the constitutional order and security of the state and are punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years.
  • Tajik activists are continuously refused the right to permanent residence in Russia. They began to return to Tajikistan, where the state agencies began to arrest them. Several people have been arrested in Russia at the request of Tajikistan.
                                         Individuals arrested in Russia:

Nuriddin Rizoevich Bafoev, date of birth 10.04.1970, born in the Asht district of the Leninabad region of Tajikistan. He was detained in Moscow on 11.25.2014.

Mekhrubon Khasanovich Sattarov, date of birth 14.05.1989, born in Khatlon region. He is registered as residing in Konibodom city of the Sogd region. He is detained in pre-trial detention centre No.4 of Moscow since 03.12.2014.

Abdurakhim Ilkhomidinovich Vosiev, date of birth 21.05.1987, born in Kubadiyan district of the Kurgan-Tyube region. He is detained in pre-trial detention centre No.4 of  Moscow since 12.11.2014.

Karim Abdualimovich Obidov, date of birth is not known to us. He is detained in Moscow.

Sulaymon Chabirov, date of birth is not known to us. He lived in Samara and is detained in the pre-trial detention centre No.1 of Samara since 19 December 2014.

Oyatulloh Mukhiddinovich Gilyaev, date of birth 10.04.1988, born in the Leninsk district of Tajikistan. He is detained in Novosibirsk.

Roziya Khasanovna Abdurakhmonova, date of birth 01.01.1961, born in the Jaloliddin Rumi district. She is detained in Novosibirsk since 19.12.2014.

                                Individuals arrested in Tajikistan:

Nematullo Odinamatovich Kurbonov, date of birth 15.03.1989, born in Khamadoni district. He is registered as residing in the Rudaki district. He was detained in Dushanbe on 09.10.2014, after his return home as a result of threats to his family.

Umedjon Mirzodavlatovich Solikhov, date of birth 15.10.1984, born in the Vosey deistrict of the Kulyab region. He was detained in Dushanbe, after his return home as a result of threats to his family.

Sherzod Komilov, date of birth 20.10.1992, born in the Shakhriston district of the Sogdiy region of Tajikistan. He was detained in Dushanbe, after his return home as a result of threats to his family.

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia expresses concern about the mass persecution of opposition coalition "New Tajikistan", which consists of informal organisations such as "Youth of Tajikistan for the revival of Tajikistan" and "Group 24", based in Russia, Tajikistan and Turkey.