Chorshanbe Chorshanbiyev has been placed in a solitary confinement cell again

The administration of the colony placed athlete and political prisoner Chorshanbe Chorshanbiyev, who is serving his sentence in a correctional facility in the city of Khujand, in a punishment isolation cell (SHIZO).

The internet portal Pamir Inside, which mainly covers events in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, reports, citing its sources in this correctional facility, that on the evening of June 24, Chorshanbiyev was removed from the general population and accused of talking during roll call, which is a violation of the colony’s rules. The prisoner was placed in SHIZO from June 25 to July 10.

However, nearby inmates reported that no such violation occurred, and Chorshanbiyev is constantly subjected to this kind of pressure.

According to a source, colony staff privately acknowledge that the directive to exert pressure on the former fighter comes from “above,” including at the instruction of a staff member of the Main Directorate for the Execution of Sentences and former deputy head of this agency, Nuriddin Rahmon.

The name Nuriddin Rahmon has previously appeared in media reports in connection with pressure, torture, and beatings of political prisoners, including Mahmadali Hait.

It is also reported that due to constant placement in SHIZO, Chorshanbiyev’s health has significantly deteriorated; he has caught a cold and suffers from lung and dental diseases.

Pamir Inside also reports, citing a source, that State National Security Committee (GKNB) officials regularly visit the colony and summon Chorshanbiyev for closed conversations. The specifics of these discussions are unknown.

So far, the country’s authorities and the administration of the colony have not officially commented on the reason for Chorshanbiyev’s placement in SHIZO.

It is worth noting that the well-known athlete Chorshanbe Chorshanbiyev was deported from Russia on December 31, 2021, and detained immediately upon arrival in Dushanbe. In May of the same year, he was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for inciting violent overthrow of power via the internet. Later, while already in prison, he was found guilty under part 2 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan (actions that disrupt the operation of places of detention committed by a person convicted of a serious or particularly serious crime) and an additional 4 years were added to his initial sentence, bringing the total prison term to 12.5 years. The athlete and his relatives believe the charges are fabricated.