Tajikistan and Turkey discussed the detention and extradition of Tajik citizens who are wanted.

On May 15, 2024, a meeting took place in Dushanbe between the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan, Yusuf Rahmon, and his colleague from the Supreme Court of Turkey, Bekir Şahin. Şahin is in Tajikistan on a working visit, as reported on the website of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the republic.

“The meeting discussed issues related to the prevention and fight against international crimes such as terrorism and extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other manifestations of transnational crime that pose a serious threat to all of humanity,” the statement said.

The prosecutors also discussed issues related to the transfer and extradition of prisoners and the detention of Tajik citizens who are wanted. “In order to enhance the effectiveness of activities during criminal investigations and to prevent all types of crime, a Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed between the Prosecutor General’s Offices of Tajikistan and Turkey,” the agency reported.

It is worth noting that in early May, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, Ramazon Rahimzoda, and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the republic, Nicolaas Schermer, discussed cooperation in the areas of search, detention, and extradition of criminals. Earlier, on April 23, the issue of extraditing criminals was discussed by Ramazon Rahimzoda with his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi. “Joint cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of both countries can contribute to bringing these individuals to justice,” Rahimzoda said at this meeting.

In 2023, there were several cases of extradition of Tajik citizens, including from European countries. At the same time, Tajik authorities claim that the extradition and punishment of these individuals are justified, as there is corresponding evidence of their crimes. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Tajikistan, in 2023, more than 200 criminals were arrested and extradited at the request of the country, which is 100 more than in the previous year.