DUSHANBE, June 20, 2014, Asia-Plus — Tajikistani national Alexander Sodiqov, who is a resident in Canada, was arrested on June 16 in eastern Tajikistan while conducting academic research, Amnesty International reported on June 19, noting that there are fears for his safety and concerns that he may face torture or other ill-treatment.
“Alexander Sodiqov, who lives in Canada, was detained on 16 June by two State Committee for National Security officers in Khorog, capital of eastern Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). He has not been heard from since he rang his wife on 16 June at 9.30 pm local time. He did not tell her where he was being held.
“He has not been heard from since. He is not known to have been able to contact a lawyer.
“Alexander Sodiqov is a PhD student at the University of Toronto. He had been conducting research for a British Economic and Social Research Council project called Rising Powers and Conflict Management in Central Asia which involves the Universities of Exeter and Newcastle. He was detained while conducting a research interview with a civil society activist and deputy head of the Social Democratic Party of GBAO, Alim Sherzamonov.
“On June 17, police went into his mother”s home in the capital, Dushanbe, searched it and removed computer and storage equipment. On 17 June, the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) issued a statement accusing him of spying for foreign governments. According to Asia-Plus and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Alexander Sodiqov appeared on local television in Badakhshan on the evening of 18 June and the following morning talking about the situation in GBAO. Radio Free Europe’s reports said that some observers felt the television footage had been heavily edited. On June 19, the head of the SCNS, Saymumin Yatimov, made a statement saying that foreign spies were operating in Tajikistan under the guise of NGOs and trying to undermine safety and security in the country.
“Alexander Sodiqov has now been held for 72 hours and under Tajikistani law he should be charged or released.”
