Two well-known bloggers, Zavkibek Saidamini and Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda, have been detained in Tajikistan. Photo: Internet The reasons for the bloggers’ detention are currently unknown. On the evening of July 8, Zavkibek Saidamini was detained in Dushanbe near one of the car washes and taken to the Ministry of Internal Affairs office in the city […]
Two well-known bloggers, Zavkibek Saidamini and Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda, have been detained in Tajikistan.
Photo: InternetThe reasons for the bloggers’ detention are currently unknown.
On the evening of July 8, Zavkibek Saidamini was detained in Dushanbe near one of the car washes and taken to the Ministry of Internal Affairs office in the city of Vahdat.
One of his relatives, who wished to remain anonymous, told Radio Ozodi that employees of the Organized Crime Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained Zavkibek Saidamini along with his classmate. The classmate was released at night but was told to come back at nine in the morning and was made to sign a statement that he would not talk to anyone. There has been no information from Zavkibek Saidamini.
Also, on the day of Eid al-Adha, July 9, law enforcement agencies detained blogger and activist Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda.
Earlier, on July 7, employees of the Organized Crime Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Vahdat interrogated Pirmukhammadzoda for several hours and then warned him to refrain from criticism and to write only about tourism and historical topics, as well as not to disclose information about his detention. A search was conducted at his home, and his mobile phone was confiscated.
According to Radio Ozodi, citing its sources, after the news of his interrogation was published, he was called back to the department. They reminded him that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement, but despite this, he communicated with Radio Ozodi. He stated that he had not spoken to journalists. He was then released.
Recently, law enforcement agencies have intensified pressure on Pirmukhammadzoda. The reason for the persecution is his video about detained journalists Daleri Emomali and Abdullo Gurbati. In one of his videos, he reported threats and pressure directed at him.
Several days have passed since the detention of journalists and bloggers Zavkibek Saidamini and Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda, but the authorities have not yet commented on the situation. Their relatives know nothing about their whereabouts.
In recent months, authorities have detained several journalists, including Abdullo Gurbati, Daleri Emomali, Mamadsultan Mavlonazarov (Mukhammadi Sultan), Khushruz Jumayev (Khushom Gulom), and Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva.
Photo: Internet