The General Prosecutor's Office of Tajikistan reports that over the past six months, the country's courts have considered only one criminal case involving torture by law enforcement officials. At the same time, the Coalition against Torture reports that during this period it received 7 complaints of cases of torture and ill-treatment in Tajik law enforcement agencies.
13 years in prison for torture and illegal detention
A representative of the Prosecutor General's Office of Tajikistan announced at a press conference on August 8, that one of the Interior Ministry employees had been sentenced to 13 years in prison for torture and unlawful detention by court order.
"The case against Mahmudzoda (not fully named), the former deputy head of the Interior Ministry department of the Shohmansur metropolitan area, was initiated in 2024.
The first verdict was also handed down in 2024, but due to the lenient punishment, the prosecutor filed a cassation appeal, and the verdict was overturned. On January 27, 2025, a new verdict was handed down, and Mahmudzoda was sentenced to 13 years in prison," – said a representative of the Prosecutor General's Office.
The representative did not provide additional information about the previous verdict or the identity of Mahmudzoda himself.
He only noted that the case was initiated under articles 143, part 1 (torture) and 358 (unlawful detention or arrest) of the Criminal Code.
At a press conference, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan confirmed the sentence of 13 years in prison to one of the Interior Ministry employees for torture and ill-treatment, but also did not disclose the details of the case.
Complaints of torture continue to be received
At the same time, the Coalition against Torture, which unites several human rights organizations, reported that in the first six months of this year it received 7 complaints about possible cases of torture and ill-treatment in Tajik law enforcement agencies.
"As before, most of the complaints relate to torture and ill-treatment of applicants by the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs," – the organization's report says.
It does not provide complete information on the details of the complaints, but only notes that in July, the rights and norms of treatment of prisoners were explained to prisoners and staff at the women's correctional facility No. 3/8 in Nurek.
The General Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Penalties of the Republic of Tajikistan also provided information on the difference between torture and ill-treatment and the rights of victims to compensation for damages.
The Coalition against Torture stated that in 6 months it had provided legal assistance to 27 victims of torture and their relatives.
It is worth noting that the Tajik authorities are regularly criticized by international organizations for the ill-treatment and torture of detainees. Every year, dozens of detainees and their relatives complain of torture during detention or interrogation.
In most cases, the authorities deny the fact of torture and initiate proceedings against police officers only in exceptional cases.
