On June 2, the Second EU-Central Asia Summit took place in the city of Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. According to the press service of the President of Tajikistan, President Emomali Rahmon participated in the Second Summit of the heads of state of Central Asia and the President of the European Union. Rahmon was accompanied on this trip […]
On June 2, the Second EU-Central Asia Summit took place in the city of Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.
According to the press service of the President of Tajikistan, President Emomali Rahmon participated in the Second Summit of the heads of state of Central Asia and the President of the European Union.
Rahmon was accompanied on this trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President’s Assistant for Economic Affairs, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, and other officials.
According to the press service, Emomali Rahmon also held a meeting with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, where they discussed economic issues as well as security matters. However, the source did not report whether the parties discussed the human rights situation in the region.
At the Second EU-Central Asia Summit, which will take place on June 2 and 3, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the Prime Minister of Turkmenistan, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will participate.
Earlier, a number of human rights organizations called on the President of the European Council to discuss key human rights issues with the leaders of Central Asian countries and to demand concrete steps to improve the human rights situation as a condition for further strengthening the European Union’s partnership with the countries of the region. It remains unclear to what extent these demands will be met.
The first EU-Central Asia Summit took place in October 2022 in Kazakhstan.
At that time, several influential human rights organizations also urged the President of the European Council to raise the issue of human rights violations in Central Asia; however, the summit primarily focused on economic cooperation and attracting investments.
In most Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, there are gross violations of human rights. Democratic countries and human rights organizations often criticize the authorities of the region.
Emomali Rahmon and his government have imprisoned several human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition figures on fabricated charges for long terms, and many have been forced to flee the country. Additionally, last year, dozens of civil activists, including Badakhshan activists, died as a result of unlawful actions by law enforcement agencies.