Rahmon and Shohiyon were frightened by the announcement of the revolution

Nine years after the activities of a group of social media activists, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Tajikistan declared them criminals.

According to the press center of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Tajikistan, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan granted the lawsuit of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Tajikistan and declared the website “New Tajikistan 2” as “extremist” and prohibited its activities within the country.

“By the decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan dated June 21, 2023, in order to protect the foundations of the constitutional order, security, and sovereignty of the Republic of Tajikistan, the lawsuit of the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Tajikistan was granted, and the website “NEW TAJIKISTAN 2” was recognized as an extremist and provocative organization, and its activities were banned on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan,” the statement reads.

The General Prosecutor of Tajikistan, Colonel General of Justice Yusuf Rahmon, and the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan, Colonel General of Justice Shermukhammad Shohiyon, urgently adopted and published this emergency decision to recognize the website “New Tajikistan 2” as an “extremist and provocative organization” eight years and three months after its activities began.

The emergency decision of the Colonel Generals of Justice, the General Prosecutor and the Chairman of the Supreme Court, also mentions the names of the participants of this group: “Suhrob Zafar, Umar Boev, Abdullo Hikmatov, Parviz Rahimzoda, Parviz Ashurov, Kunduzkhon Mamadalieva, Khovar Murodov, Kurbonali Oripov, Sergey Bulichev, Nemat Begov, Grup-24, Kurbonali K. Kurbonali, Firuz Mumin, Emir Bahaddin, Izatullo Dodoboev, Salmon Sultonzada, Hikmatullo Bahodirov, Mansur Naimov, Khoja Abuzar, Alikhon Ayubkhanovich.” These names are taken from the announcement.

The author of the announcement is activist Ekhson Odinaev – Sarafrozi Olamafruz, who disappeared in Russia in 2015. His relatives and friends accused the authorities of Tajikistan of his abduction.

The announcement was published on July 22, 2014, on his Facebook page. Ekhson Odinaev, after discussing the activities of Dododjon Atovulloev, the leader of the “Vatandor” movement, wrote:

“A new channel “NEW TAJIKISTAN 2” has appeared on the (radio channel) Zello. Join in, discuss the rally. In the coming days, we will take to the streets from the internet and radio, and show our strength, our unity, and show the thief and scoundrel Emomali Rahmon that we are Tajiks.”

On July 22 of this year, Dododjon Atovulloev again published this announcement by Ekhson Odinaev and wrote:

 “There is still no news about the fearless young fighter who was abducted by the authorities of Tajikistan in Russia 8 years ago. Where are you, dear brother? Where are you, missing Yusuf?”

Salmon Sultonzada, a Tajik political activist, reacted to this decision:

The decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan on June 21, 2023, to recognize the aforementioned pages on social media as extremist and provocative is yet another step by the authorities of Tajikistan towards pressuring the media and independent individuals and restricting citizens’ access to alternative information.

We, exercising our human and constitutional rights, will continue our activities on social media within the framework of international norms.

Our activities have been, are, and will be aimed at restoring justice and the rule of law in our dear Tajikistan!”

It should be noted that the group “New Tajikistan 2” has never been a website or an organized group. Over the past 9 years of its activities, opposition activists have used it as a conditional name on pages and groups on social media platforms such as “Zello,” “Facebook,” “YouTube,” “OK,” and others, used by the leader of the “Vatandor” movement, members of “Group 24,” and others as a platform to communicate with the residents of the country.

So why, after 9 years, was it declared an “extremist and provocative organization”? Apparently, when Dodojon Atovulloev once again published a notice from Ehson Odinaev about holding a rally, it greatly upset the drunken generals of justice in Tajikistan, and they, without verifying the information, made this decision.

They accepted and published this decision as a “fabrication of the past.”

Amrullohi Nizom, specially for Azda TV