Protests will be held in Germany and Austria

The political movement “Group 24” has called on opposition activists to participate in demonstrations in Europe.

A number of opposition organizations and groups have urged Tajiks to take part in protests organized in connection with the disappearance of the leader of the political movement “Group 24” and a representative of this organization in Turkey. The actions will take place on March 14 and 15, 2024, in Germany and Austria.

“The protests are organized to locate the leader of the political movement ‘Group 24’, Sukhrab Zafar, and the representative of this organization in Turkey, Nasimjon Sharifov,” the statement from “Group 24” notes.

The organizers of these protests also called on all opponents and critics of the regime of Emomali Rahmon living in Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria, “not to remain indifferent to the fate of these two brothers – fighters for justice, who sacrificed their lives and everything they had for the freedom of the Tajik people and Tajikistan!”

The Civil Committee for the Protection of Political Hostages and Prisoners of Tajikistan has also joined this call, urging all Tajik opposition members living in Europe to “seize the opportunity to join the protest action announced by the political movement ‘Group 24’ to locate the leader of the political movement ‘Group 24’, Sukhrab Zafar, and the representative of this organization in Turkey, Nasimjon Sharifov!”

On March 12 of this year, the National Alliance of Tajikistan also condemned the disappearance of the leader of the opposition movement in its statement.

“The disappearance of the leader of one of the opposition movements in a country that claims to be democratic and legal raises many questions,” the statement from the National Alliance of Tajikistan notes.

The National Alliance of Tajikistan – a coalition of Tajik opposition parties abroad – in its statement called on the international community not to remain “on the sidelines” regarding the disappearance of the leader of the opposition movement.

The leader of the political movement “Group 24”, Sukhrab Zafar, has not been in contact since the morning of March 10 of this year, and his phone is also turned off. Activist and member of “Group 24”, Nasimjon Sharifov, has also been missing since February 23, 2024. Nothing is known about their whereabouts so far. Both went missing in Turkey – the country where the founder and leader of “Group 24”, Umarali Kuvvatov, was killed in 2015.