International organizations called for the release of Rukhshona Hakimova

A number of human rights and international organizations for the protection of human rights and journalists have called on the authorities of Tajikistan to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Rukhshona Hakimova and prominent political figures.

The international organization World Liberty Congress urged the authorities of Tajikistan to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Rukhshona Hakimova and all convicted journalists imprisoned on fabricated charges.

The organization’s statement was published on February 6 of this year.

Member of the Board of Directors of World Liberty Congress Mukhamadjon Kabirov stated that the profession of a journalist is not a crime, and freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democracy. It is more important than ever to protect those who speak the truth, the statement noted.

The statement also emphasized that the international community should not remain silent when the authorities of Tajikistan systematically suppress freedom of speech and expression, independent press, and political opposition.

World Liberty Congress calls on regional and international partners to pressure Tajikistan for the immediate release of Rukhshona Hakimova and all unjustly convicted journalists and opposition figures, as well as to condemn court proceedings held in closed sessions, politically motivated charges used to suppress dissent. The organization also urged to hold the government of Tajikistan accountable for violating its international obligations in the field of human rights, including freedom of the press and ensuring fair trial.

Earlier, a number of political and human rights organizations, including the political movement “Group 24,” the National Alliance of Tajikistan, the political Movement for Reform and Development of Tajikistan, the Movement for Reform and Development of Tajikistan, the human rights organizations Human Rights Watch, the Civil Committee for the Rescue of Political Hostages and Prisoners in Tajikistan, and others called for the release of Rukhshona Hakimova.

On February 5, 2025, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan issued a verdict in the high-profile case of prominent political figures suspected of attempting a coup.

A total of 8 prominent political figures and Rukhshona Hakimova, a journalist and niece of Shokirdzhon Hakimov, mother of two small children, were sentenced to harsh prison terms.

The Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced independent journalist Rukhshona Hakimova to 8 years in prison. She was found guilty under Article 305 (treason) of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan.

The court session took place on February 5 of this year in a closed format, and neither the relatives of the defendants nor journalists were allowed to attend the session.

It is still unknown why the investigation presented such a severe charge against the journalist, but a source close to the investigation informed the media that the prosecutor accused Rukhshona Hakimova of “conducting a survey on China’s influence in Tajikistan, and some of the detained politicians, including Saidjafar Usmonzoda and Shokirdzhon Hakimov, participated in the survey.”

Before the trial, Rukhshona Hakimova was free under a travel ban, as she has a 5-month-old child. Law enforcement agencies confiscated her passport and other documents, and she was prohibited from leaving her home or communicating with journalists.

After the verdict was announced, the journalist was taken into custody right in the courtroom, and her two young children, one of whom is only 8 months old, were placed in the care of relatives.

Following the announcement of the verdict, the opposition and human rights organizations condemned the sentence against Rukhshona Hakimova and called for her immediate and unconditional release from custody.

However, the authorities of Tajikistan always ignore the calls from the opposition and human rights organizations.

The harsh sentence against Rukhshona Hakimova is just part of a larger campaign to suppress freedom of speech and independent press in Tajikistan: more than 10 journalists are imprisoned under Rahmon’s regime for engaging in their professional activities.