The lies of Tajikistan representatives at the UN meeting

Representatives of Tajikistan reported to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on April 20 and 21.

The main topic of the meeting was the measures taken by the Tajik government to ensure equality among residents and eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

The Tajikistan delegation included Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashuriyon, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Abdurakhmon Alamshokhzoda (Buzmakov), Ombudsman of Tajikistan Umed Bobozoda, Minister of Labor Gulnora Khasonzoda, Assistant to the President for Legal Affairs Zarif Alizoda, and others.

In the report previously presented by Tajikistan representatives to the UN, it was noted that currently “all legal foundations have been established in Tajikistan to ensure equality among residents regardless of nationality, race, gender, language, religion, political beliefs, education, social and property status.”

However, as experts note, the situation in the country indicates that the statements of the country’s representatives do not correspond to reality, and human rights are grossly violated in Tajikistan.

The 14-page report from Tajikistan also did not mention the residents of Badakhshan.

At the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination meeting, the issue of residents of GBAO was a key topic. Committee members demanded explanations from the Tajik authorities regarding recent events in GBAO.

UN expert Ms. Al-Misnad asked the representatives of Tajikistan why they did not mention the events in Badakhshan and also requested clarification on the measures taken to protect the Pamiris from discrimination.

She also stated that according to reports, the authorities of Tajikistan violate the rights to freedom of religion or belief of residents, particularly certain groups of Muslims.

UN expert Ms. Al-Misnad stated that only 2-3 representatives of civil society spoke at the UN meeting, and those were only those living outside the country. She asked the representatives of Tajikistan to provide information about the non-governmental organizations that were shut down in 2022 and 2023.

Another member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Gyun KUT, asked the representatives of Tajikistan about lawyers, human rights defenders, and activists, most of whom have been imprisoned or killed. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies committed violence and asked the representatives of Tajikistan whether an investigation had been conducted and whether the perpetrators were punished.

Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashuriyon, leading the Tajikistan delegation, stated that the government of Tajikistan does not recognize a national minority such as “Pamiris.” According to him, all scientific studies show that the residents of Badakhshan do not consider themselves a national minority.

Muzaffar Ashuriyon emphasized that Pamiris are “true Tajiks, and this is an indisputable fact.”

Renowned journalist Rustami Joni believes that the government is making efforts to ensure that there are no Pamiris left in Tajikistan.

“The minister confirmed the repressive policy of the government against the Pamiris with his words. There is now no doubt that the government is making efforts to ensure that there are no more Pamiris in Tajikistan. At the same time, the majority of the residents of Badakhshan consider themselves Pamiris, and they are known as Pamiris in Tajikistan,” writes Rustami Joni.

“Numerous studies and reports from international organizations testify to this. The most important evidence against the government’s claims is that all UN experts in their statements referred to the Pamiris as a separate ethnic group,” the journalist stated.

General Abdurakhmon Alamshokhzoda spoke about “criminal groups” in Badakhshan, as well as about “foreign organizations financing them.” According to him, the leaders of these criminal groups had connections with terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, including such organizations as “Al-Qaeda,” “Ansarullah,” “ISIS,” and others, committing a large number of crimes and organizing rallies.

Alamshokhzoda stated that the authorities conducted a special operation solely to “protect the rights of the residents,” detain “leaders of criminal groups,” and “confiscate weapons and narcotic substances.” As a result of the operation, no peaceful residents were harmed. Also, those who voluntarily surrendered were not held accountable. However, reports and accounts of the detention and killing of dozens of people in Badakhshan suggest otherwise.

At the end of his speech, Alamshokhzoda labeled the “Commission 44” as a terrorist organization, which was created to negotiate with the government and investigate the murder of Gulbidin Ziyobekov. According to him, Ulfatkhanim Mamadshoeva, Faromuz Ergashov, and others were guilty and were sentenced to imprisonment for “the crimes they committed.”

Although Buzmakov labeled Pamiri activists as criminals, international organizations and Western countries believe they are innocent and demand their release.

At the meeting of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, representatives of Tajikistan responded to the experts’ questions. However, most of the responses from the representatives of Tajikistan were unconvincing.

In particular, UN expert Al-Misnad stated that the representatives of Tajikistan did not provide accurate and specific answers to the questions, limiting themselves to general information.