Tajik President Emomali Rahmon is due to visit the GBAO in early September, though no official announcement has been made.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will soon be visiting Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), where riots broke out earlier this year and put pressure on Pamiri leaders, journalists and activists.
RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported Preparations were being made for the president’s visit. The visit is likely to take place in early September, but a specific date is unknown. It will be the first time since.
Rahmon last visited GBAO in September 2021. make a speech Khorog, the region’s capital, praised the government’s investment in the region. Rahmon’s actual visits to GBAO usually involve the initiation of various projects and mostly discussion of the friction between the region and Dushanbe. During his trip to GBAO in 2020, Rahmon Bridge over the river Gand and attended Commissioning of new sports facilities.
RFE/RL Tajik language service quoted a resident of the Lushan district who said that if the trip took place, people would be forced to greet the president. “…but in their hearts they are not grateful to the authorities. protests, where a group of civilians tried to stop a military convoy heading for Khorog. At least he killed 21 civilians.
Dushanbe claimed to have conducted an “anti-terrorist operation”, which to many observers was a clear crackdown on Pamiri leaders, journalists and activists. At least he killed three prominent local leaders, Mamadovokir Mamadovokilov, Zoil Rajabov and Kursand his Mazolov, and hundreds were detained. In the months that followed, several more Pamiris and activists were detained in Russia and deported to Tajikistan. last week, Maksudo GayosovTajikistan activist and blogger.
Meanwhile, many of those detained and charged during May’s protests and unrest have been convicted and sentenced in recent weeks. Salam Imomnazarovwas a local leader killed during the 2012 riots and arrested in February 2012. He was convicted in June and sentenced to 16 years in prison for drug trafficking, a sentence that was revealed this week.the public prosecutor reportedly Calls for 25 years in prison for activist and journalist Urfasonim Mamadshoba. Authorities are seeking life imprisonment for Mamadshoeva’s ex-husband, former general Horvash Horvashov.of The pair “Confession” that appeared in the video in May To organize the GBAO mayhem.
Human Rights WatchIn a recent statement, Central Asian researcher Syinat Sultanaliev said: They receive a fair trial and are at increased risk of being tortured or otherwise ill-treated. “
The number of people detained is estimated at around 200, making it nearly impossible to catalog all cases. Consistent pressure on the media not to report bad news about GBAO makes this task even more difficult.
As Eurasia Net As documented in July, Tajik authorities have been discussing promoting the construction of the GBAO, “seeking to assuage anger with investments…” The work facilitated includes “two new sports stadiums at Khorog State University, A park, and a 10-story building were included. We chat about the new tunnel connecting the towns of Kalai-Khumb and Vanj.
These could be the protagonists of Rahmon’s arrival in the region.
