DUSHANBE, March 5, 2013, Asia-Plus — Amnesty International (AI) has written to the Ukrainian authorities urging them not to return former Prime Minister Abdulmalik Abdullojonov to Tajikistan where “he would be at risk of torture and other grave human rights violations.”
Amnesty International is also urging the Ukrainian authorities to immediately release Abdulmalik Abdullojonov.
A statement released by AI on March 4, in particular, notes that Amnesty International is concerned that, if extradited to Tajikistan, Abdumalik Abdullojonov will face unfair trial and be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The organization has called on the Ukrainian authorities to refuse any request from the Tajikistani authorities to extradite Abdumalik Abdullojonov, and to grant Abdumalik Abdullojonov access to a fair and impartial asylum procedure.
“In advance of presidential elections in November this year, the Tajikistani authorities have been escalating their campaign to silence all critical voices including through harassment, shutting down organizations and websites, and seeking extradition of opposition members.
“Torture is pervasive in Tajikistan and in November 2012, the UN Committee against Torture noted “numerous and consistent allegations … of routine use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects, principally to extract confessions”. Reports of the torture methods include the use of electric shocks, boiling water, suffocation, beatings, and burning with cigarettes. There were reports of rape and threats of rape in relation to female and male detainees, as well as psychological torture.
“As a party to the Refugee Convention, the Convention against Torture and the European Convention on Human Rights Ukraine should not return anybody to a country where they could face a serious risk of torture or other grave human rights abuses.
“Amnesty International has repeatedly found it necessary to remind the Ukrainian authorities of their international human rights obligations not to return anybody to a country where they would be at risk of torture.”
Founded in London in 1961, Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization focused on human rights with over 3 million members and supporters around the world. The objective of the organization is “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.”
We will recall that Abdumalik Abdullojonov was arrested at Borispol Airport near Kiev on February 5 on an international warrant after arriving from the United States.
The Borispol court ruled on February 7 that former Tajik Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov can be held in detention for up to 40 days while authorities await documents from Dushanbe regarding his possible extradition.
Abdumalik Abdullojonov, who challenged Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in the 1994 presidential election, is accused by the Tajik authorities of involvement in a 1996 assassination attempt on President Rahmon. He is also accused of backing a 1998 militant attack in Sughd Province, and of organized crime and terrorism-related offenses.
Abdumalik Abdullojonov denies these charges. He was reportedly granted political asylum in the United States in June 199 and for the past decade, Abdullojonov has lived in the United States.
