DUSHANBE, October 30, 2014, Asia-Plus – Leader of the Moscow-based “Tajik Labor Migrants” public association, Karomat Sharipov has been detained.
According to the Tajik Labor Migrants’ official website, searches of Tajik Labor Migrants’ office as well as Sharipov’s apartment in Moscow and his country cottage were conducted on October 29.
The searches were reportedly caused by an incident that took place at Moscow’s Sadovod Market on September 6 this year.
As a result of a clash between Tajik migrants and officers of the private security agency that also involved officers from the Kapotnya police station and special police unit, three Tajik migrants sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital.
Karomat Sharipov was accused of provoking the clash and the charge of compulsion to bargain has been officially brought against him.
“By ‘bargain’ they understand bribing Tajik migrant workers, whom Sharipov allegedly compelled to action aimed at protection of their labor rights,” the website says.
More than 6,000 migrants reportedly work at the Sadovod Market. “The market territory is declared a private territory, and therefore, it is “forbidden” zone for human rights activists and is a “concentration” zone for migrants, who call Sharipov and ask for help,” the website notes.
Members of the Coordinating Council of the “Tajik Labor Migrants” Public Movement have decided to give a press conference on the incident that took place at the Sadovod Market. Representatives of human rights organizations as well as Russian and Tajik media outlets will be invited to this press conference.
