On November 6, 2024, officers of the German Federal Police transported political activist Dilmurod Ergashev to Düsseldorf Airport for deportation. His deportation was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time, with a transit through Istanbul and a final destination in Dushanbe. According to information from our sources, upon the arrival of Turkish Airlines flight TK254 in Dushanbe on November 7 at 01:20 local time,German Federal Police officers handed Ergashev over to representatives of Tajikistan’s special services—the GKNB (State Committee for National Security).
At the time of the handover, Ergashev was in extremely poor condition: he could barely stand, his health had significantly deteriorated, and he appeared exhausted and fatigued, having apparently been subjected to physical and psychological abuse. Tajikistan’s special services handcuffed him, covered his head with a black bag, treated him brutally, dragged him to a vehicle, and forcibly placed him inside. This treatment demonstrates not only extreme cruelty but also a complete disregard for human dignity and rights.
The day before, on November 5, Ergashev, realizing that returning to Tajikistan would lead to inevitable repression by Emomali Rahmon’s regime, attempted to end his own life. He was found in critical condition, covered in blood, and taken to a hospital. However, despite his critical state, he was later returned to the detention center and subsequently sent for deportation.
Ergashev faced injustice at every stage of his case: the legal proceedings in Germany were clearly biased, and his deportation became a blatant example of coercive and orchestrated actions. Germany, which was supposed to be a haven for the persecuted, showed complete disregard for his life and rights. Instead of protecting someone fleeing repression, Germany effectively condemned him to a torturous fate by handing him over to Rahmon’s regime, known for its brutal suppression of political opponents.
The Movement for Reforms and Development of Tajikistan strongly condemns Germany’s actions as a gross violation of human rights, which runs counter to democratic principles and undermines international norms of human rights protection. We are extremely concerned about the fate of political activists who are under threat of repression. This is already the third case of a political activist being deported from Germany to Tajikistan, despite clear threats to their lives and warnings from international human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. There is suspicion that some agreement exists between Tajikistan and Germany regarding the forced deportation of our activists.
The lives of political activists should not become bargaining chips in the pursuit of geopolitical goals. Such actions by Germany indicate support for Rahmon’s authoritarian regime, which strengthens its power through repression. This also points to the transnational repression faced today by the Tajik opposition, both from the Tajik regime and from governments like Germany’s.
We strongly condemn Germany’s actions in supporting Rahmon’s regime. This demonstrates weakness in the face of authoritarian pressure and endangers the lives of political activists, whose protection should be a priority for any democratic state.
The Movement for Reform and Development of Tajikistan calls upon the international community and human rights organizations to pay attention to this incident and to exert pressure on Germany to prevent further instances of deporting political activists to countries where they are subjected to cruel treatment and repression. Germany must restore its reputation as a nation where the protection of rights and freedoms is a priority.
Sharofiddin Gadoev
Chairman of the Movement for Reforms and Development of Tajikistan
Amsterdam, Netherlands
November 7, 2024
