Wife of Tajik opposition figure appeals to Lithuanian authorities

According to Radio Ozodi, the wife of the refugee and political activist from Tajikistan, Sulaymon Davlatov, who was detained in Lithuania, has appealed to the president of that country for assistance in her husband’s case and to prevent his extradition to Tajikistan. Lithuanian security forces arrested Davlatov on April 5 on suspicion of actions that pose a threat to Lithuania’s national security. This case has been classified as secret.

Khurmatbibi Rahmatshoeva, the wife of Sulaymon Davlatov, told Radio Ozodi on April 10 that her husband is innocent, but if the Lithuanian side finds him guilty, the trial should take place in that country. “On April 8, on the third day of his detention, I spoke with my husband. He was very depressed. He asked about the children. Our eldest son is sick,” said Sulaymon Davlatov’s wife. According to her, she sent her letter to the Lithuanian authorities on April 9.

“In my letter, I wrote that if he is extradited to Tajikistan, he faces severe punishment, a long prison term, and possibly even death. We became refugees in Lithuania, a country that respects democratic values, human rights, and freedoms. Since 2015, the Tajik authorities have been persecuting my husband for participating in the organization ‘Group 24,’ which is why we became refugees in Lithuania,” shared Khurmatbibi Rahmatshoeva. In this letter, a copy of which was obtained by Radio Ozodi, Davlatov’s wife urged the Lithuanian authorities to conduct an open trial for her husband with the participation of lawyers and the media.

Sulaymon Davlatov, who often opened discussions on Islamic topics and sharply criticized the authorities of Tajikistan on his social media accounts, was detained by Lithuanian security forces on April 5 of this year. He is currently being held in a special center for illegal migrants.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Lithuania reported on April 9 on the National Radio and Television: “Davlatov poses a threat to Lithuania’s national security due to his interactions with members and supporters of terrorist organizations, extremist movements, and the propaganda of extremism.” Earlier, his lawyer Ignatas Ungaila informed Radio Ozodi that he intends to appeal the court’s decision, as there are no signs of a criminal offense in his client’s case.

Davlatov himself, in a video call with opposition activist Sharofiddin Gadoev, stated that he refused an offer from Lithuanian special services to cooperate, after which his arrest unexpectedly followed. The video recording of the conversation between Gadoev and Davlatov was obtained by Radio Ozodi on April 8, but it is unclear what the proposed cooperation entails.

Sulaymon Davlatov is 40 years old and is a native of the city of Vahdat. He was previously a member of the banned “Group 24” in Tajikistan and the Congress of Constructive Forces of Tajikistan. He has been living and working in Vilnius for the past 9 years. According to eyewitnesses, he owns a restaurant, a store, and a bakery in the Lithuanian capital. He has three children. In 2015, he was detained at the request of Dushanbe by Interpol in Finland, where he had moved from St. Petersburg, but was later released.