Appeal to the International Community for a Peaceful Resolution of the Political Crisis in Tajikistan
The Movement for “Reforms and Development of Tajikistan” addresses the governments of the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Austria, and the Kingdom of Norway with an urgent call to support an initiative aimed at facilitating a peaceful and constructive dialogue between the Tajik opposition and the government of Emomali Rahmon. In the context of the escalating political, legal, and humanitarian crisis in Tajikistan, international involvement remains a key factor in preventing further destabilization and ensuring stability both regionally and globally.
Your countries have always played a leading role in protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as in maintaining an international legal order based on the principles of the rule of law and democracy. We appeal to you to use your influence to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Tajikistan and to prevent further escalation of repression. Within the country, economic crisis, corruption, clan-based governance, and the aggressive actions of Emomali Rahmon’s regime directed against the political opposition, civil society, and independent media are well-documented and widely known to the international community. Systematic human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, suppression of freedom of speech, and persecution of journalists, human rights defenders, and lawyers have become distinguishing features of this regime. Mass killings and repressions, such as the tragic events in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, have deepened the crisis and intensified despair among the population.
Peaceful avenues for resolving the crisis through dialogue are virtually exhausted, and many citizens have lost faith in the possibility of democratic change in Tajikistan. This creates serious risks for regional stability and may lead to unpredictable destabilization.
Tajikistan is a country with a young population, where 71% of citizens are young people. For this generation, the absence of democratic alternatives and opportunities leads to the risk of radicalization. This vacuum of democratic choice can be exploited by extremist groups, posing a threat not only to Tajikistan but to all of Central Asia. In the context of an ongoing crisis and lack of effective reforms, the country may find itself on the brink of destabilization. This will create a flow of refugees and strengthen extremist movements, which will become a serious security challenge.
Given the strategic position of Tajikistan in Central Asia, destabilization in the country can have a negative impact not only on regional but also on global security. In this regard, we call on the international community for coordinated actions to protect human rights and support democratic processes in Tajikistan, as well as to intensify political pressure on Emomali Rahmon’s regime.
We propose that the governments of the United States of America and the countries of the European Union focus their efforts on achieving the following key objectives:
1. Immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.
2. Cessation of repressions against journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society activists, and guaranteeing the right to freedom of speech and the existence of an independent press.
3. Repeal of all legislative and regulatory acts that contradict international human rights standards ratified by Tajikistan, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
4. Conducting free and fair elections with the participation of all political forces.Furthermore, we emphasize the need to bring those responsible for systematic human rights violations, including Emomali Rahmon and his close associates, to international legal accountability. These crimes require not only political and diplomatic measures but also judicial proceedings within the framework of international law. In this regard, we urge the member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to initiate a process to investigate and hold Emomali Rahmon’s regime accountable for mass killings, torture, and enforced disappearances.
Ensuring justice for the victims of these crimes is not only a path to justice but also an important step towards restoring the rule of law and democracy in Tajikistan. The adoption of measures by the international community against crimes against humanity will serve as a signal that even authoritarian leaders cannot escape responsibility for their actions.
Support from your governments for this initiative will be an important step towards protecting human rights, strengthening democratic institutions, and the rule of law in Tajikistan. We are confident that coordinated efforts by the international community will lead to significant progress in protecting the rights of the people of Tajikistan and will contribute to peaceful democratic changes.
Sharofiddin Gadoev
Chairman of the Movement for “Reforms and Development of Tajikistan”
Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 15, 2024.
