The sentences for prominent figures remain unchanged

The Supreme Court of Tajikistan upheld the sentences of eight prominent political figures, as well as journalist and mother of two young children Rukhshona Hakimova, who were sentenced to long prison terms.

On April 1 and 2, a court hearing took place in the pre-trial detention center in Dushanbe regarding the high-profile case of an alleged “attempted coup.” The session was held behind closed doors.

The hearing addressed the appeals of journalist Rukhshona Hakimova, former Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifov, former chairman of the Democratic Party and former parliament member Saidjafar Usmonzoda and his deputy Ahmadsho Komilzoda, former head of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan Akbarsho Iskandarov, well-known lawyer and first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party Shokirjon Hakimov, former head of the information department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdulfaiz Atoi, and retired officers of the State National Security Committee Nuramin Ganizoda and Jamshid Boev. They were sentenced to terms ranging from 8 to 27 years of imprisonment.

The Supreme Court of Tajikistan found all defendants guilty on several counts. Earlier, according to media reports, the defendants were charged under Article 189 (Incitement of National and Religious Hatred), Article 306 (Attempted Violent Seizure of Power), Article 247 (Fraud), and Article 305 (Treason to the State) of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan.

At the latest court sessions, all defendants insisted on their innocence. In particular, Shokirjon Hakimov, being a lawyer, in his speech lasting about two hours, refuted the verdict of the first instance court point by point and reiterated his innocence.

The judges listened to the positions of the well-known figures in the case over two days, and announced their decision in just 10–15 minutes. All sentences were left unchanged.

Relatives of the convicted told the media that although they did not expect release, they still hoped for a reduction in the sentence.

In early June 2024, a number of high-ranking officials and politicians were detained. The first was the former leader of the Democratic Party and former parliament member Saidjafar Usmonzoda, who was detained on June 12. On June 14, at the next parliamentary session, based on the proposal of the Attorney General, Saidjafar Usmonzoda was stripped of his immunity and arrested. He was accused of colluding with the opposition and “attempting a violent seizure” of power in the country using his official position.

Later, the case included Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan Ahmadsho Komilzoda, lawyer and first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan Shokirjon Hakimov, former chairman of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan Akbarsho Iskandarov, former Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifov, and former employee of that ministry Abdulfaiz Atoi, as well as two employees of the State National Security Committee — retired Colonel Nuramin Ganizoda and retired Colonel Jamshid Boev.

Later, another figure appeared in the high-profile case involving well-known politicians – the only woman, Rukhshona Hakimova, a journalist and niece of Shokirdzhon Hakimov. She was also accused of “treason against the state” – a criminal case was initiated against Rukhshona Hakimova under Article 305 (treason against the state) of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan.

It is still unclear why the investigation brought 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 the influence of China 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.