The head of the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDP), Rahmatillo Zoyirov, has openly challenged the imprisonment of a human rights lawyer and an opposition businessman.
SDP leader Rahmatillo Zoyirov urged the Supreme Court on Facebook on March 21 to review the cases of lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov and businessman Zayd Saidov, calling the prosecution of the two men politically motivated.
Zoyirov, who is also a lawyer, told Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service on March 22 that Saidov had not been provided with the means and conditions to defend him.
Saidov, a businessman and leader of the unregistered opposition party New Tajikistan, was sentenced to 26 years in prison in December 2013 after being convicted of financial fraud, polygamy, and sexual relations with a minor.
He also contends that the charges and trial were politically motivated.
Yorov was sentenced to 23 years in prison in October, after the Dushanbe City Court convicted him of issuing public calls for the overthrow of the government and inciting unrest.
Zoyirov said he believes that Yorov was prosecuted only because he defended 13 members and leaders of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, which was labeled a terrorist organization and outlawed in 2015.
On March 15, the Supreme Court sentenced Yorov to an additional two years behind bars after finding him guilty of contempt of court and insulting a government official.
Yorov denies any wrongdoing, saying that his imprisonment is politically motivated.
Founded in 2002, the Social-Democratic Party was registered on December 20, 2002. It was originally registered as the Party of Justice and Development on February 5, 1999. Tajikistan’s Ministry of Justice requested the same year that the Supreme Court ban the party’s activities and its registration was canceled. The party re-emerged and was registered under the name of the Social-Democratic Party in late 2002. The party reportedly has 7,500 members.
The party backbone members reportedly include practicing lawyers from the legal firm Sipar and the party leader Rahmatillo Zoyirov is the head of Legal Consortium of Tajikistan.
Although Zoyirov's party is officially registered, it has no seats in the parliament.
