Tajik activists complained to the German Foreign Ministry about Imomuddin Sattorov

The activities of the Ambassador of Tajikistan in Germany, Imomuddin Sattorov, have raised concerns among Tajik civil society activists living abroad.

A group of representatives from Tajikistan’s civil society, political activists, and opposition members in exile has sent an official letter to the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.

In their letter, the activists expressed serious concern about the activities of the Tajik ambassador in Germany, Imomuddin Sattorov, which “go beyond diplomatic activities.”

The authors of the letter noted that Sattorov is using his diplomatic status and privileges to engage in activities that exceed his official powers.

The letter claims that at the direction of Tajik law enforcement agencies and special services, the Tajik ambassador is gathering information about citizens of the country, including representatives of the political opposition and civil society activists living in Germany.

The letter also mentions the organization “Payvand,” which operates in Germany with the assistance and participation of Imomuddin Sattorov. Although this organization positions itself as a public entity, in practice, it engages in informational and propaganda activities in the interests of Tajik law enforcement agencies and special services.

Furthermore, this organization compels a vast network of students and citizens of Tajikistan working in various sectors, including services and hotels, to gather information about their workplaces, activities, colleagues, and even hotel guests, and to pass this data to the embassy.

The letter specifically highlights Imomuddin Sattorov’s activities during his tenure as the Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Russian Federation from 2014 to 2021. The authors noted that during this period, at Sattorov’s personal initiative and in coordination with Russian law enforcement agencies, hundreds of Tajik citizens were detained, forcibly returned to their homeland, and subsequently subjected to criminal prosecution. It is noted that during his time as ambassador, well-known human rights defenders such as Karamat Sharipov and Izzat Amon were deported from Russia to Tajikistan.

The activists also suggested in their letter that he has been collaborating closely with the special services of post-Soviet countries and the Russian Federation for quite some time.

In conclusion, the authors of the letter urged the Federal Foreign Office of Germany to thoroughly and carefully examine the information presented and take appropriate measures to prevent potential threats to national security and public order in the country, as well as the safety of refugees and citizens of Tajikistan living in Germany.

It has been reported that the letter to the German Foreign Office was signed by a number of Tajik journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists, as well as opposition members and free thinkers.

At the time of publication of this material, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany and the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Germany had not officially commented on this letter.