Who was granted “pardon” by Emomali Rahmon?

According to the amnesty law announced by Emomali Rahmon, 897 prisoners were released from Tajik prisons, but there are no journalists or political activists among them.

On March 19, Emomali Rahmon issued a decree “on amnesty,” under which 897 prisoners were eligible for amnesty. The exact number of those released is still unknown, but according to Radio Ozodi, those who were freed were mainly former civil servants convicted of fraud, bribery, homosexual relations, and embezzlement of state property.

Reportedly, among those released were Askar Nuralizoda, a former high-ranking official of the Ministry of Economic Development and a member of the ruling party, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for receiving a bribe of half a million dollars. Also released were Alimardon Jabborov, the former head of the Land Resources Department of the Rasht district, sentenced to six years for attempting to bribe security service officials, and Gulsara Tukhtaeva, who received seven years in prison on charges of extortion and “blackmail.”

Critics note that those convicted of corruption and bribery are being released, while dozens of civil activists, political opponents, and journalists remain in prison on fabricated charges and are not covered by the amnesty.

Experts believe that prisoners who admit their guilt and ask for forgiveness from the president have a chance to be released. However, those who consider themselves innocent and do not repent for crimes they did not commit remain behind bars. Even if they ask for forgiveness, their chances of release are slim, as they have opposed the authoritarian rule of Emomali Rahmon.

Despite the concerns of international organizations and the opposition regarding human rights violations and freedom of speech in Tajikistan, as well as their calls for the release of innocent political prisoners, the authorities continue to ignore these demands, intensifying repression against the opposition.