Abdukhaliq Holikzoda faces new charges

A new court hearing involving the author of a high-profile book was held behind closed doors.

According to Radio Ozodi, on January 26, the second court session in the case of entrepreneur and author of the book “Ҳаводиси рӯзгори ман” (Events of My Life) Abduhalil Kholikzoda, writer Abdukodir Rustam, and director of the publishing house “Er Graf” Sukhrab Rajabzoda took place in a detention center in Dushanbe. The session was held behind closed doors.

Radio Ozodi, citing informed sources, reports that this time Abduhalil Kholikzoda was charged with “fraud” in addition to “inciting social, racial, national, regional, and religious enmity.”

“It is alleged that during the investigation it was established that when importing some medical equipment into the Ibn Sino clinic, its value was understated in the documents. Although his relatives have long resolved this issue and paid the fine,” the report states.

Neither the Supreme Court nor the General Prosecutor’s Office is commenting on this case. Law enforcement and judicial authorities have previously discussed high-profile cases behind closed doors and have not provided details to journalists. In some cases, they even prohibit lawyers or relatives from communicating with journalists.

Last summer, three months after the publication of the controversial book “Хаводиси рузгори ман,” the author Abduhalil Kholikzoda was detained on the orders of the General Prosecutor of Tajikistan Yusuf Rahmon. It was later announced that a criminal case had been initiated against the writer under Article 189 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan (inciting national and local enmity).

On August 28, law enforcement agencies detained the general director of the publishing company “Er Graf,” Sukhrab Rajabzoda. It was reported that the book was published by this publishing house, and his detention was related to this.

Later, Tajik law enforcement agencies detained the well-known writer Abdukodir Rustam. In September of last year, the General Prosecutor’s Office reported that Abdukodir Rustam was placed under arrest on August 31 based on Article 189, part 2, point “d” (Inciting national, racial, regional, or religious enmity) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan.