More than 10,000 people, including 321 women and 47 minors, are currently being held in Tajikistan’s jails, penal colonies and pretrial detention centers, Minister of Justice Rustam Shohmurod told reporters in Dushanbe on January 31.
Asked about political prisoners in Tajikistan, the minister said that “there is no notion “political prisoner” in Tajikistan’s legislation.”
“Moreover, there is no any responsible that could determine he category of political prisoners,” Shohmurod noted.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW)’s report for 2017 notes that “the Tajik government has imprisoned more than 150 activists on politically motivated charges since the middle of 2015. Most are lawyers, perceived critics, and members of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT).”
The Penitentiary System is responsible for managing the prison system in Tajikistan and has been part of the Ministry of Justice since 2002. Its 18 penitentiary institutions reportedly include eight correctional colonies (including one colony for women), one colony for juveniles, one prison and five pre-trial detention centers. There are also three regional units responsible for the execution of non-custodial sanctions.
