UN Secretary-General spoke with Emomali Rahmon

On August 26, a telephone conversation took place between the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Photo: Internet

It was reported that during the conversation, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations, including key international issues such as ensuring comprehensive peace, stability, and sustainable development.

Emomali Rahmon emphasized Tajikistan’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation with the UN and its structural institutions “in advancing the global agenda, especially on issues of water and climate, combating terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and other manifestations of transnational organized crime.”

According to the Khovar agency, one of the main topics of the conversation was the situation in Afghanistan. Rahmon stressed that the international community must continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of Afghanistan and not leave them alone in the current difficult conditions. In this regard, the Tajik side expressed its readiness to contribute to this process, including by providing the country’s logistical capabilities for such assistance.

Emomali Rahmon appealed to the UN Secretary-General, stating that “the international community must continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of Afghanistan and not leave them alone in the current difficult conditions.” He also expressed the Tajik side’s readiness to contribute to this process, including by providing the country’s logistical capabilities for such assistance.

Meanwhile, just the day before, on August 25, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees stated that the deportation of Afghan refugees from Tajikistan is a violation of international law.

In its statement, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed serious concern about the situation of Afghan refugees in Tajikistan, many of whom are subjected to detention and deportation. The UNHCR reminded that the forced return of people fleeing persecution contradicts the country’s obligations under international law.

UNHCR representative Elizabeth Tan urged Tajikistan to stop detaining and deporting refugees – actions that clearly endanger people’s lives. The forced return of refugees contradicts the law and the principle of non-refoulement, which is a cornerstone of international refugee law, she noted.

It appears that during this phone conversation, the UN Secretary-General “advised” Emomali Rahmon to adhere to democratic principles in his country.

Tajikistan receives significant funding from the UN each year to provide shelter for Afghan refugees. However, despite this, the authorities are deporting Afghan refugees from Tajikistan.

After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of Afghan citizens fled the country. Tajikistan accepted about 10,000 Afghan refugees. However, due to poor conditions in Tajikistan, more than 4,000 refugees have left the country for other nations.