Country: Tajikistan — Political Prisoner Database

Saidumar Husaini

A deputy of the Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) sentenced to life in prison. His detention is part of a wider crackdown on the political opposition in Tajikistan.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Rahmatullo Rajab

A member of the IRPT who has received credible reports of being tortured in prison. He is caught in the Tajik government's campaign against the banned opposition party.

URGENT ACTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Maksud Ibragimov

An activist who was forcibly disappeared in Russia and returned to Tajikistan. He was subsequently prosecuted and sentenced to 17 years in prison.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Abdukakhori Davlat

A high-ranking member of the Islamic Renaissance Party sentenced to 28 years in prison. The sentence was handed down as part of a purge of the party leadership.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Kiyomiddini Azov

A high-ranking member of the Islamic Renaissance Party sentenced to 28 years in prison. The sentence was handed down as part of a purge of the party leadership.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Unknown defense lawyer

A defense lawyer who worked with political opposition members was sentenced to 28 years in prison. This is described as an outrageous move by the authorities to suppress legal defense for the opposition.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 27, 2026

Mahmadali Hayit

An activist and member of the IRPT who has reportedly been subjected to torture in prison. He is part of a wider crackdown on peaceful opposition members in Tajikistan.

URGENT ACTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 27, 2026

Bakhtiyor Nazarzoda

Former mayor of Kulob, Bakhtiyor Nazarzoda, is facing investigation alongside several former subordinates for alleged corruption, including illegal land distribution and bribery. The investigation follows an audit of the city administration.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 14, 2026

Baljuvon, Khatlon region, Tajikistan

political

Murod Mukimzoda

Eight members of the 'Gulkhanfaruzon' group, including former court official Murod Mukimzoda, have been detained in Baljuvon. They are suspected of involvement in arson following the burning of Mukimzoda's room.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 5, 2026

Muhimjon Rahmonov

Teacher Muhimjon Rahmonov is facing administrative charges after reporting that he was beaten by a student's brother. The authorities opened a case against him for allegedly using profanity during the incident.

HEALTH RISK

LAST UPDATED · JUN 5, 2026

Kamchybek Toshiev

A trial has commenced in Kyrgyzstan against former security chief Kamchybek Toshiev and seven others. He is accused of attempting to seize power and abusing his position in connection with a petition for early elections.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUN 10, 2026

Vladimir Putin

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has referred the case against Vladimir Putin to the Assembly of States Parties because Tajikistan failed to arrest him during his visit to Dushanbe. The ICC argues that immunity does not excuse the failure to comply with arrest warrants.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUN 14, 2026

Mehrona Naibova

The family of 23-year-old Mehrona Naibova is demanding a fair investigation into her mysterious death after her body was found in a river. While authorities claim suicide, her sister suspects a cover-up involving local officials.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 18, 2026

Osif Sanavbarov

An 18-year-old man, Osif Sanavbarov, was sentenced to seven years in prison in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan for allegedly following the banned Salafi movement. His family denies the charges.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUN 10, 2026

Sughd region, Tajikistan

political

Sherzod Hasanzoda

Sherzod Hasanzoda, a high-ranking official in the Sughd region, was released from criminal liability after paying a fine and compensating for damages. He was originally charged with fraud and abuse of office.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 4, 2026

Maqsudjon Saidov

Maqsudjon Saidov, a 36-year-old man arrested in Kulob on drug charges, died shortly after being brought to Dushanbe. His death has led to the trial of six police officers for potential abuse of power and causing harm.

URGENT ACTION INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUN 4, 2026

Mirsaid Shorakhmatulloev

Mirsaid Shorakhmatulloev, a 67-year-old former official of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT), was sentenced to five years in prison. He was arrested in December 2025 after posting a critical comment on Facebook regarding the death of another activist in prison.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 4, 2026

Abduhalim Nazarzoda

The article mentions Abduhalim Nazarzoda, former deputy minister of defense, whose rebellion led to the banning of the Islamic Renaissance Party in 2015. Nazarzoda was one of the last commanders of the United Tajik Opposition forces who was integrated into the government.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Ismatullo Abdullozoda

Former Dushanbe Airport head Ismatullo Abdullozoda is on trial for massive corruption involving over 1 billion somoni. While other accomplices were released after paying fines, he remains in custody.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 4, 2026

Ismatullo Abdullozoada

Former head of Dushanbe International Airport, Ismatullo Abdullozoada, is undergoing trial for the embezzlement of over 1.2 billion somoni. The case has sparked public debate regarding potential political motivations due to his family ties to the president.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 14, 2026

Rukhshona Khakimova

Rukhshona Khakimova was initially detained without a warrant by police officers outside her home in Dushanbe on July 16, 2024. She was later formally arrested and taken into custody after her verdict on February 5, 2025. Her charges allegedly stemmed from interviews she conducted for a research project on international aid from China to Tajikistan, where she reportedly spoke with two defendants, asking general questions not related to classified information.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Hamadoni district, Tajikistan

Other

Iso Kholmadov

Residents of Hamadoni district are fighting to recover livestock confiscated by authorities following the 2023 arrest of shepherd Iso Kholmadov. Although Kholmadov was sentenced to 15 years, the community claims their property was illegally seized alongside his.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 4, 2026

Dushanbe, Ninth Kilometre neighbourhood

Activism

Sorbon Yunoev

Sorbon Yunoev is a 63-year-old Pamiri activist and farmer from Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan region, known for supporting indigenous Pamiri rights and criticizing government actions, especially after the November 2021 protests. During his trial, Yunoev was accused of raising his voice against the acting authorities; of expressing his support for the participants in mass protests in Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province in November 2021 and May 2022; of expressing his support for the head of Commission, who had been arrested and detained on 28 May 2022 and had subsequently been sentenced to 29 years of imprisonment; of organizing a peaceful sports event held in Khorugh on 30 May 2020; and of publicly criticizing unreasonable use of the State budget for the construction of a flagpole with the national flag of Tajikistan in one of the districts of Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province. For these actions, he was found guilty of “participation in a criminal association” under article 187 (2) of the Criminal Code. According to the source, Yunoev was convicted of participation in a criminal association, which does not match the activities he was charged with during his trial. The source adds that there is not much information about Yunoev’s conviction, since his relatives tried to secure a lawyer of his choice, but several lawyers refused to work on the case due to fear of prosecution by the authorities. It is alleged that the authorities have harassed lawyers and human rights defenders working on the cases of those detained following the events in Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Manuchehr Kholiknazarov

Manuchehr Kholiknazarov was detained and interrogated regarding alleged illegal funding from a banned political alliance. He is currently charged with participation in a criminal association and held in a state security detention centre.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

unknown

Documented Cases.

Saidumar Husaini

Rahmatullo Rajab

Maksud Ibragimov

Abdukakhori Davlat

Kiyomiddini Azov

Unknown defense lawyer

Mahmadali Hayit

Bakhtiyor Nazarzoda

Murod Mukimzoda

Muhimjon Rahmonov

Kamchybek Toshiev

Vladimir Putin

Mehrona Naibova

Osif Sanavbarov

Sherzod Hasanzoda

Maqsudjon Saidov

Mirsaid Shorakhmatulloev

Abduhalim Nazarzoda

Ismatullo Abdullozoda

Ismatullo Abdullozoada

Rukhshona Khakimova

Iso Kholmadov

Sorbon Yunoev

Manuchehr Kholiknazarov