Political consultations between Tajikistan and Austria: will the issue of extraditing opposition members be discussed?

Representatives of Tajikistan and Austria held the 13th round of political consultations between the two countries in Dushanbe on October 12.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, the parties discussed issues related to the development of bilateral relations in the fields of politics, economics, science, culture, education, healthcare, and tourism. Cooperation within international and regional organizations was also discussed.

The consultations were attended by the head of the Europe and America Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Sokhibnazar Gayratsho, and the director of the Political Department of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Thomas Mühlmann.

Trade and economic cooperation is one of the main areas of collaboration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan reports. Austrian companies Voith Hydro, Andritz Hydro, Doppelmayr, and AME operate in important sectors of Tajikistan’s economy. Additionally, Dushanbe and the Austrian city of Klagenfurt are sister cities.

The political consultations between Vienna and Dushanbe take place against the backdrop of earlier meetings where Tajik authorities raised the issue of the extradition of Tajik opposition members residing in Austria. Official statements from the Tajik side do not clarify whether the issues of extradition of individuals wanted by Tajik law enforcement agencies and residing in Austria or human rights concerns were discussed.

According to media reports, in April 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan submitted a request to the Austrian authorities for the extradition of 18 members of opposition parties and organizations living abroad. These individuals have been accused in Tajikistan of various charges, including extremism, and declared wanted. However, opposition representatives claim that these persecutions are politically motivated.

The publication “The Diplomat” reports that on August 10, 2026, a court in Vienna rejected the extradition request for Shavkat Muhammad, his mother, and brother. It is reported that courts in Austria have previously also rejected several extradition requests for Tajik citizens. The Tajik side has not commented in detail on these cases.

Amid these disputes, experts are questioning whether the political and economic cooperation between the two countries will be built with consideration of international obligations in the field of human rights and refugee protection. In their opinion, in such cases, the authorities of European countries should pay attention not only to official requests from partner countries but also to evidence in these cases, guarantees of fair trial, and potential risks of persecution or inhumane treatment in the event of these individuals’ return to their homeland.

At the same time, the official statement from both sides regarding the recent political consultations does not specify whether the issues of extradition of opposition representatives or concerns regarding human rights were discussed.