Tajikistan: dubious efforts against torture

03.10.2012 16:57 msk Human Rights Tajikistan

People accused of crimes in Tajikistan continue dying in mysterious circumstances during the preliminary investigations. Several people died after jumping out of the windows of one the law enforcement agency offices. Recently, relatives received a disfigured body with ample evidence of beatings and strong burns in the shape of an iron from an investigative detention facility No 1. Yet the Central Directorate of Corrections explained that the marks were made by doctors to revive him, and that supposedly he was not beaten, but instead attempted suicide…

Tajik journalists attempt to defend their rights again and again

26.09.2012 23:25 msk Human Rights Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s media organisations and mass media outlets are beginning a joint action called “100 days of freedom in Tajnet”. The reasons for the joint action are regular blocks of websites and many violations of the rights of journalists. The media’s problems in Tajikistan began with special military operations in Khorog in July 2012 aimed at neutralising illegal armed gangs and catching the killers of Abdullo Nazarov, the General of the Committee of National Security. From the first days of the operations, the website of information agency Asia-plus(www.news.tj) was blocked.

Reporters Without Borders: Tajik opposition journalist Dodojon Atovulloev stabbed in Moscow

13.01.2012 18:12 msk Human Rights Tajikistan

Reporters Without Borders is shocked by the assault yesterday on the Tajik journalist Dodojon Atovulloev, who was stabbed in a Moscow restaurant, and calls on the Russian police to do all it can to identify his attacker and those behind the crime. “All avenues must be explored, taking account of the professional activities of this noted opposition journalist,” the press freedom organization said.

VOA video: World's Tallest Flagpole Towers Over Dushanbe

12.10.2011 10:19 msk Tajikistan

Internet providers in Tajikistan blocked "undesired" mass media

11.10.2010 23:34 msk Human Rights Tajikistan

On October 11, 2010 the leading internet providers in Tajikistan blocked the access to the number of websites of local and foreign web media and Ferghana.Ru, Russian e-edition, specifically. This was done by the direct order from the government – the Ministry of transport and communications of Tajikistan that, in its turn, could not make such decision without the authorization from "his majesty" president. In the opinion of our experts, the introduction of Internet filtering in Tajikistan is motivated by the fear of Emomali Rakhmon’s regime before critics against him, emerging in concern to recent events in the republic.

Tajik Mowgli wants to get the passport

25.08.2010 10:15 msk Human Rights Tajikistan

The only document of 27-year old Vladimir Burkhanov from Tajik Khujand is the statement, produced by the Republican mental health clinic and confirming his stay in this medical institution for 13 years – 1990-2003. Tatiana Khatyukhina, the lawyer of the Khujand office of Center for human rights, personally managing Vladimir’s case, is working on proving his identity and hopes for the help of kind people and the Prosecutor General of the republic.

Tajikistan: The number of divorces and lone parents is growing in concern with polygamy

21.08.2010 09:26 msk Tajikistan

According to the results of the preliminary research, ran by the Center of strategic research under the president of Tajikistan, the polygamy is getting popular in the republic. Today, about 10% of men have more than one wife. The head of social issues department Firuz Saidov informed Ferghana.Ru that "the preliminary results indicate that many men in Tajikistan have two and three wives". The polygamy is legally banned in Tajikistan. Therefore, Firuz Saidov says, "during the interview many women preferred not to indicate her status among the number of wives".

Tajikistan blames Uzbekistan in systematic violation of railroad transportation agreements

04.06.2010 10:10 msk Business Tajikistan

The problem of railway cargo transit, going from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan, has been seriously undermining the relations between two Central Asian republics for the last few months. The true reasons of difficulties, as well as the sources of their origins, are not clear. Tajik side believes the delays have no serious reasons and they are set up artificially; Tajikistan claims that situation has turned into emergency long ago. In its turn, Uzbekistan contradicts facts of delay, refers to the scheduled maintenance and announces the end of embargo. Today, we are presenting the opinion from Dushanbe and at the same time we offer Tashkent to declare clear and formulated position at our website.

Tajikistan: Men’s work for fragile women

13.01.2010 16:33 msk Business Tajikistan

When every seventh citizen of Tajikistan goes abroad for earnings, those, staying home, have to make a living. Tajik women are mastering traditional "male" professions such as potters, irrigators, crane operators, taxi drivers, brick layers, woodworkers and blacksmiths. While gentlemen are working abroad, ladies replace them at home. Tilav Rasul-zade, Ferghana.Ru correspondent in Tajikistan, writes about fragile women, carrying man’s work.

This side of Afghani border. Central Asia braces itself for attacks

02.11.2009 15:25 msk Analytics Tajikistan

Conference "Germany - Central Asia: partnership for security strategies" is under way in the capital of Tajikistan. Representative of security structures from Central Asian countries, Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan take part. Their opposite numbers from Russia, China, France, Italy, Canada, United States, Great Britain, and Ukraine are observers. Representatives of international organizations (Interpol, UN Development Programme, OSCE, and European Union) are present too. Expected activeness of Talib gunmen on the Afghani-Uzbek and Afghani-Tajik borders is discussed.

The president of Tajikistan is preparing the successor

12.08.2009 16:15 msk Politics Tajikistan

22-year old Rustami Emomali, the son of Emomali Rakhmon, attended the meeting of Presidents of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Russia that took place in Dushanbe at the end of July. Many view this as the sign that the President of Tajikistan treats his son as the successor, and it would be better to say, as prince Royal because in Tajikistan Rakhmon is addressed "your highness" both on TV and almost officially. Ferghana.Ru correspondent learned the opinion of politicians to the presidential dynasty, emerging in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan: Irrecoverable Losses

15.07.2009 15:19 msk Migration Tajikistan

Bodies of 65 labor immigrants were returned to Tajikistan from Russia in caskets in the first five months of 2009. in caskets The Death rate among the Tajiks seeking employment in Russia remains more or less unchanged year after year. Some of them die of natural causes, of course, but very many are murdered. Here is a story of three sisters who died in the Russian city of Surgut and of how immigration is unstoppable.

The last of the allies

14.07.2009 16:05 msk Politics Tajikistan

The circumstances of the death of former Emergency Control Ministry, the General-Lieutenant Mirzo Zieev are not clear. According to the official statement, he was planning to take over the power in Tavildara, but soon joined the governmental forces and later on was killed by his comrades. The opposition sources affirm that Zieev was called by the ruling regime for negotiations and was shot by governmental troops. What is the implication of the death of important opposition leader who has done so much to strengthen the power of the President Rakhmon?

Japanese army prisoners in Tajikistan: Slave labor for good memory

16.06.2009 14:38 msk Tajikistan

Sixty years ago the last Japanese army prisoners left Tajikistan. They never did careless work; that is why Japanese were assigned to build the important strategic objects: dams, houses, channels. The channels, constructed by Japanese, still do not need repairs while the houses, built by Japanese, are still reliable. Japanese were fed well, they were allowed to marry Soviet women. Nonetheless, the Japanese prisoners often times committed a suicide. Ferghana.Ru correspondent visited the village, where the labor camp of Japanese prisoners had been located, and found out many details of five-year stay of Japanese in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan: Survival through revival of ancient crafts

10.06.2009 11:33 msk Tajikistan

Tajikistan gained sovereignty nearly 17 years ago. Civil war that lasted five years took over 100,000 lives and made as many women and children widows and orphans. The war devastated national economy, both industry and agriculture. Tajikistan has not recovered yet: unemployment grows, factories idle. The situation being what it is, people are left to their own devices. Thievery and murder, human traffic, frauds, prostitution are booming. Very many are convinced that there is nothing to be done about corruption anymore. Suicide appears the only solution to the problems of many. According to official reports alone, 478 tried to take their lives in Tajikistan in the last two years. Over 100 suicides were logged in the Sogdi region alone in the first five months of 2009.