The Movement for Reforms and Development of Tajikistan unequivocally condemns the criminal policies of Emomali Rahmon’s regime, which are aimed at the physical elimination of political opponents, the use of state institutions for terrorist purposes, and the escalation of transnational repression. One of the most striking and tragic examples of this policy was the assassination of Tajik opposition leader and founder of the “Group 24” movement, Umarali Kuvvatov, on March 5, 2015, in Istanbul.
This crime was not an isolated incident—it was part of a systematic strategy to eradicate all those who dare to challenge the dictatorship. Kuvvatov’s assassination set a precedent that marked the regime’s transition from domestic repression to outright international crimes. This act of state terrorism, orchestrated by Tajikistan’s security services, demonstrated that the authorities in Dushanbe will stop at nothing to maintain their absolute grip on power.
Since this assassination, the scale of transnational repression has only intensified, with Tajikistan’s security agencies, under Emomali Rahmon’s command, becoming an instrument of political terror. Kidnappings, torture, fabricated criminal cases, and targeted assassinations of opposition figures, journalists, human rights defenders, and their families have become systematic tools of suppression and intimidation. State terrorism has solidified as the foundation of Rahmon’s governance, and in recent years, dozens of Tajik activists have been abducted, murdered, or have disappeared without a trace—all of which lead back to the highest echelons of power.
Today, Tajikistan stands as an authoritarian state completely devoid of democratic institutions. Freedom of speech has been eradicated, independent media have been dismantled, and thousands of political prisoners languish in jails under fabricated charges. Corruption, clan-based rule, and systemic repression have driven the country into a deep economic crisis, leaving the people in poverty, despair, and with no hope for the future.
The repression against civil society, journalists, and activists is not merely an internal issue for Tajikistan—it is a threat to regional and international security. A regime that operates through terror fosters political instability in Central Asia and increases the risk of youth radicalization. Deprived of democratic opportunities, the younger generation becomes an easy target for extremist organizations.
Ten years ago, the assassination of Umarali Kuvvatov became a symbol of the Tajik regime’s impunity. Today, we declare: this impunity must end. Emomali Rahmon and his inner circle must be held accountable for crimes against humanity. We call upon the international community not to turn a blind eye to these atrocities and to take decisive action to put an end to the state terror perpetrated by Emomali Rahmon’s regime.
The Movement for Reforms and Development of Tajikistan
March 5, 2025
Amsterdam, Netherlands
