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  • WECHANGE News LIVESTREAM zur Konferenz DIALOGUE FOR FUTURE 2022Seit gestern läuft die durch WECHANGE organisierte Konferenz DIALOGUE FOR FUTURE, die sich mit Demokratie, IT, Krieg und Krise in Deutschland und den osteuropäischen Nachbarländern beschäftigt. Zum Beispiel um 10:40Uhr "Resilience of the Ukrainian civil society in the frontline areas" von Serhij Zhadan oder heute um 17:15Uhr eine Podiumsdiskussion über "Russian imperial ambition derailing: consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine for the Eastern Partnership Region and the EU". Das gesamte Programm sowie einen Livestream findet ihr hier: https://civilsocietycooperation.net/conference-2022/
    Forum
  • Helmut Wolman Funding: Strengthening Ukraine’s Voice in the EU: Grants for Civil Societyhttps://www.praguecivilsociety.org/news-items/strengthening-ukraines-voice-grants-for-civil-society - How much and when: Grants will range from 20,000 to 120,000 EUR for each project. Costs can be covered from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023. Co-funding is not required. - What: An open call for grants to Ukrainian civic organisations and initiatives to support them in building partnerships with other European counterparts. We want to give Ukrainian organisations an opportunity to establish partnerships in other European countries, strengthen new solidarity networks that popped up in response to the full-blown invasion, and foster more long-term exchange between Ukrainian organisations and key partners in other European countries. - Who is eligible: Ukrainian civil society organisations/initiatives in partnerships with one or more counterparts in other European countries. We are ready to support the strengthening of an ongoing partnership as well as the establishment of a new partnership (applicants are responsible for finding and coming to a preliminary agreement with their partner in another European country before applying). Current Prague Civil Society Centre grantees are also eligible to apply. - Application deadline: September 16, 2022 - Why: With Russia’s attack on Ukraine, a number of new supporters of the country have emerged, stepping up for Ukraine by holding public demonstrations, crowdfunding for humanitarian assistance and aid to refugees, making public appeals to accelerate Ukraine’s EU candidacy, and more. Ukrainian NGOs, think-tanks and expert organisations have become strong international advocates for Ukraine, and play a key role in policy debate on support for Ukraine and its recovery.
    Stand with Ukraine
  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY August 01-12, 2022: More long-term sentences, Khorugh City Park nationalizedNatives of GBAO who were arrested during the crackdown since May 2022 continue to be sentenced to long prison terms, often in secret trials without legal representation and due process. See an [ADC Memorial article](https://adcmemorial.org/novosti/presledovaniya-aktivistov-na-pamire-davlenie-pohishheniya-prigovory/) published on August 02, 2022, and a [Eurasianet article](https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-pamiri-activists-imprisoned-en-masse) published on August 11, 2022. The abduction of activists from Russia has been covered by [The Diplomat](https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/pair-of-pamiri-activists-disappear-from-russia-and-reappear-in-tajikistan/), [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31974831.html) and [Vot tak](https://vot-tak.tv/novosti/05-08-2022-operatsiya/). At the same time, the authorities in GBAO continue to impose their control on society and culture. On August 02, 2022, Pamir Daily News [reported](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/1133) that local residents in Khorugh were coerced by the authorities to perform music and dance in front of delegations. On August 10, 2022, Radio Ozodi [reported](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31982227.html) that the authorities had taken over Khorugh City Park which had been gifted to the Aga Khan in 2003 and rehabilitated by the [Aga Khan Trust for Culture](https://www.akdn.org/where-we-work/central-asia/tajikistan/cultural-development/khorog-park). The International Commission of Jurists [called](https://www.icj.org/tajikistan-detained-protesters-should-be-given-immediate-access-to-lawyers/) on the authorities of Tajikistan to ensure that detainees from GBAO were immediately guaranteed the right of access to a lawyer. ADC Memorial The Committee to Protect Journalists [requested](hhttps://cpj.org/2022/08/tajikistan-authorities-detain-pamiri-journalists-ulfatkhonim-mamadshoeva-and-khushruz-jumayev-for-more-than-2-months/) the release of journalists Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva and Khushruz Jumayev from GBAO. Open Democracy [published](https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/gorno-badakhshan-mamadboqirov-tajikistan-pamir-mountains/) an analysis of events in GBAO by researcher Suzanne Levi-Sanchez.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY July 13-31, 2022: Expanding scope of the crackdown and comprehensive intimidationMany of the natives of GBAO who had been detained during the crackdown on civil society on May and June 2022 were sentenced to long prison terms. The security forces were gradually expanding the scope of the crackdown, sending the message that nobody is safe from persecution, not even religious authorities or Russian citizens. On July 27, 2022, Pamir Daily News [reported](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/1120) that Muzaffar Davlatmirov, a local religious authority (khalifa) in UPD neighbourhood of Khorugh, had been detained the day before. The authorities increasingly put pressure on educational organizations affiliated to the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismailis. As summarized in an Eurasianet [article](https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-puts-the-squeeze-on-aga-khan-linked-entities), the tradition of summer camps for school children has been discontinued and the future of the Aga Khan Lycee in Khorugh, the most renowned school in GBAO, is under question. There are also indications that the authorities might plan to confiscate key commercial entities affiliated to the Aga Khan. Various media, among them [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31967525.html), have reported that two community organizers Oraz Vafirbekov and Ramzi Vafirbekov, who were citizens of the Russian Federation and had been influential among the Pamiri diaspora in Russia, had been forcibly disappeared at an airport in Moscow and taken to Dushanbe. A video shows both of them alleging that they had gone to Tajikistan voluntarily, which is [denied](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31968771.html) by their relatives.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY July 07, 2022: European Parliament condemned the violent crackdown in GBAOThe European Parliament [adopted a resolution](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220701IPR34339/human-rights-breaches-in-hong-kong-brazil-and-tajikistan) on the human rights situation in GBAO. According to a press release, the resolution strongly condemned "the Tajik authorities’ violent crackdown against protesters, journalists, bloggers, lawyers and activists following demonstrations in the country’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous region in November 2021 and May 2022." It expressed the Parliament's "grave concerns at the deteriorating human rights situation in the area, while calling for an end to the repression of the local Pamiri minority and for their protection." The European Parliament urged Tajikistan "to allow international humanitarian and human rights organisations immediate and unconditional access to the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province to monitor the situation, and to fully restore communications and full internet access in the region". The Members of the European Parliament demanded "that people arbitrarily detained are immediately released and all charges against them dropped" urged for "independent investigations into the violent clashes and the right to fair trials." The final text of the adopted resolution is available [here](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0293_EN.html). The adoption of the resolution followed after a [debate in the plenary of the European Parliament](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/vod.html?mode=chapter&vodLanguage=EN&vodId=b219ad8c-8669-a384-62f0-524abcc99714&date=20220706#) on the human rights situation in GBAO on July 06, 2022. Radio Ozodi [reported](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31932704.html) about the debate in Russian. Eurasianet published an [article](https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-banks-on-gbao-construction-boom-to-soothe-tempers) about the construction projects in GBAO announced by the authorities (road from Kalaikhumb to Vanj, drinking water pipes, stadium, park and university building in Khorugh) to appease the population.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY July 02-06, 2022: Detentions, torture and verdictsRadio Ozodi [reported](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31926839.html) that the verdict against Chorshanbe Chorshanbiev, who had been deported from Russia, [detained](https://asiaplustj.info/en/news/tajikistan/laworder/20211231/tajik-mma-fighter-extradited-from-russia-to-tajikistan-faces-charge-of-inciting-regional-enmity-and-riots) by Tajikistani security agencies in December 2021 and [sentenced](https://asiaplustj.info/ru/news/tajikistan/society/20220514/tadzhikskogo-boitsa-mma-chorshanbe-chorshabieva-prigovorili-k-85-godam-tyurmi) to more than eight years in prison in May 2022, was confirmed by a court of appeal on June 29, 2022. On July 04, 2022, Pamir Daily News [reported](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/1069) the case of Khairimamad Dustmamadov who had been detained in Khorugh, tortured during detention, taken to hospital, survived a suicide attempt and again taken to a security agency office. According to [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31929887.html), the poet and camera operator Muyassar Sadonshoev who had recorded the statements of the "Commission of 44" on video, had been sentenced to eleven years in prison on June 24, 2022.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 22-24, 2022: Radio Ozodi reportage about crackdown, authorities promise infrastructure projects in GBAOThe bloggers and citizen journalists Daler Imomali and Abdullo Gurbati are still in detention. [Eurasianet](https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-citizen-journalists-targeted-by-relentless-repression-machine) published an article about their cases and [Human Rights Watch (HRW)](https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/22/tajikistan-release-bloggers-respect-media-freedom) called for their immediate release. For a summary of the HRW statement in Russian, see the [Radio Ozodi article](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31909485.html) about it. Pamir Daily News [reported allegations](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/1025) that Salam Imomnazarov, the son of informal authority Imomnazar Imomnazarov assassinated in Khorugh in 2012, had been sentenced to 16 years in prison. He had been [detained](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31781368.html) upon arrival at Dushanbe Airport in February 2022. [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31909565.html) (in Russian) and [Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)](https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-gorno-badakhshan-bloody-crackdown/31914045.html) (in English) published a comprehensive reportage about the crackdown on civil society in GBAO which is based, among others, on interviews with eyewitnesses of the eve and the aftermath of the violent crackdown on protesters in Vamar on May 18, 2022. RFE/RL also published an [analytical article](https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-gorno-badakhshan-brutal-crackdown/31910506.html) of recent events in GBAO, interpreting them as systematical suppression of a local protest movement and a testing ground for a countrywide crackdown on civil society. It also warns that "Dushanbe has seemingly destroyed any hope of regaining support in GBAO". According to the news agency [Khovar](https://khovar.tj/rus/2022/06/prezident-poruchil-obespechit-realizatsiyu-proektov-po-razvitiyu-gbao-samoj-krupnoj-po-territorii-oblasti-tadzhikistana-predrekayut-burnoe-razvitie/), in the context of the recent crackdown on civil society, President Rahmon has announced and promised the implementation of various infrastructure projects in GBAO.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 21, 2022: Superficial calm and subtle pressure in KhorughRussian political scientist Andrey Serenko [reported](https://t.me/anserenko/4614) that the situation in Khorugh was superficially calm but the town was under shock, that state officials announced that internet access might be rehabilitated on June 27, 2022, and warned residents not to post "anything unnecessary" in social media to avoid prosecution. He also mentioned that an increasing number of GBAO residents were trying to leave their homelands. The state news agency Khovar in a press release in [Tajik](https://khovar.tj/2022/06/prezident-suporish-dodand-tatbi-i-barnoma-o-oid-ba-rushdi-vmkb-tamin-karda-shavad-dar-minta-ai-az-i-ati-udud-kalontarini-to-ikiston-tara-iyoti-bosurati-so-a-o-peshbin-meshavad/) and [Russian](https://khovar.tj/rus/2022/06/prezident-poruchil-obespechit-realizatsiyu-proektov-po-razvitiyu-gbao-samoj-krupnoj-po-territorii-oblasti-tadzhikistana-predrekayut-burnoe-razvitie/) published the content of the speech in which President Rahmon had taken responsibility for the crackdown in GBAO.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 17, 2022: Transnational and transregional repression against natives of GBAO in Dushanbe and RussiaThe online portal [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/999) reported that they had received indirect warnings from the Tajikistani security agencies alleging that they had got funding from abroad and were biased against the authorities in their coverage. Journalist [Anora Sarkorova](https://t.me/anorasarkorova/164) reported that natives GBAO living in Dushanbe had been arrested for critical comments and likes in social media. She also reported that dozens of natives of GBAO living in Russia had received notifications from Tajikistani security agencies that they were accused of serious crimes and required to return to Tajikistan within short periods of time, providing [evidence](https://t.me/anorasarkorova/165) in the form of a screenshot of one case. According to Sarkorova, the affected individuals had taken part in video addresses calling for peace and rule of law in GBAO and published in social media comments and photos related to events in GBAO. The notifications included threats of forced deportation from Russia and harsh punishments in case of refused voluntary return. They also contained screenshots of social media comments as evidence of crimes.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 16, 2022: Continuing wave of arrests, authorities accusing assassinated and detained informal authorities of drug traffickingThe wave of arrests of different categories of dissenters and informal power brokers is continuing. [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31901645.html) and [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/994) reported about the detention of Mamadsulton Mavlonazarov, a retired security agency officer and native of GBAO who had criticized the current State Committee for National Security leadership openly in social media. [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/993) reported the arrest of Sorbon Junoev, an entrepreneur and civic activist in Roshtkala district. According to [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31900640.html), the well-known bloggers Daler Imomali and Abdullo Gurbati were detained, even if in their cases there was no obvious link to GBAO. The Inter-agency committee on the enforcement of law and order in GBAO issued a press statement (in [Tajik](https://khovar.tj/2022/06/sitodi-bajniidoravii-tamini-amniyat-va-tartiboti-amiyat-dar-vmkb-habar-medi-ad-4/) and [Russian](https://khovar.tj/rus/2022/06/mezhvedomstvennyj-shtab-po-obespecheniyu-bezopasnosti-i-obshhestvennogo-poryadka-v-gbao-soobshhaet-4/)) and alleged to have seized 200 kg of opium belonging to Khursand Mazorov who had died during the purge in UPD neighbourhood of Khorugh on June 12, 2022, probably by suicide. The number of plastic bags on the photo (37) is not consistent with the number of plastic bags seized according to the text (8). The press statement continued with listing the community leaders and informal authorities who had been assassinated or detained recently and trying to tie them to organized crime and drug trafficking.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 15, 2022: Withdrawal of soldiers, continuing arrests, statement by Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights DefendersAccording to sources of [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31899396.html), more than 30 military vehicles with soldiers had left GBAO over the previous three days. At the checkpoints between the districts in GBAO, only traffic police was checking documents, whereas a few days before there had also been soldiers checking the passengers' luggage. At the same time, security forces continued systematically arresting informal power brokers and close relatives of informal power brokers who had already been assassinated or detained, as reported by [Russian political scientist Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/4578). Serenko drew attention to the legal flaws and the high number of Pamiri inmates. He issued a warning that the authorities might be preparing a staged prison rebellion to create a pretext for killing Pamiri inmates, following the example of the killing of detained leaders of the oppositional Party of Islamic Renaissance in 2018. The [Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders](https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/tajikistan-arbitrary-detention-of-lawyers-manuchehr-kholiknazarov) issued a statement on the detention of members of the "Commission of 44", which had been formed during the November 2021 protests in Khorugh to intermediate with the authorities and investigate the suspected extrajudicial killings together with them. It "strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Manuchehr Kholiknazarov, Faromuz Irgashov and Khursand Mamadshoev and urges the authorities in Tajikistan to immediately and unconditionally release them and to put an end to the judicial harassment against them. The Observatory calls on the authorities to put an immediate end to the violence and excessive and unlawful use of force against peaceful protesters and human rights defenders in Tajikistan." After the international UN conference "Water for Sustainable Development", which took place in Dushanbe on June 6-9, 2022, amidst [calls for boycott](https://www.change.org/stay-out-of-bloody-waters), youth representatives who had attended the event released a [statement](https://www.aguasapim.com/en/post/the-youth-calls-for-peace-in-the-mountains) according to whicht they "stand in solidarity with Pamiri peoples, who face similar challenges to that of traditional peoples in many parts of the world. We have heard the deafening silence about the violence that is taking place in your home and we will not comply."
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 14, 2022: Further arrests but relative calm in KhorughSources of [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/975) described an atmosphere of terror, shock and anxiety among the population of Khorugh in which the authorities avoided further provocation. A [source of Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/4570) confirmed a relatively calm situation in Khorugh. According to sources of [Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/4570), however, arrests of individuals close to Tolib Ayombekov and of Khorugh residents who had fought off government forces in July 2012 and had been amnestied were continuing.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 12, 2022: Purge of UPD neighbourhood of Khorugh[Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/967) reported that security forces had sealed off the neighbourhood UPD (South-east Khorugh), that they were searching houses for the informal authorities Zoir Rajabov and Khursand Mazorov and that gunshots had been heard. [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31894630.html), referring to two sources, reported the detention of sports trainer Komron Mamadnazarov. [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/968) and [a source of Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/4565) reported that Rajabov and Mazorov had committed suicide with explosives to avoid detention. They had been informal authorities in UPD, following Imomnazar Imomnazarov after his assassination by security forces in 2012. Pamir Daily News also [quoted](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/968) a source describing that after their suicide, masked security personnel carried boxes into the house of Mazorov and people with cameras appeared. Several hours later, the state news agency Khovar alleged (in [Tajik](https://khovar.tj/2022/06/sitodi-bajniidoravii-tamini-amniyat-va-tartiboti-amiyat-dar-vmkb-habar-medi-ad-2/) and [Russian](https://khovar.tj/rus/2022/06/mezhvedomstvennyj-shtab-po-obespecheniyu-bezopasnosti-i-obshhestvennogo-poryadka-v-gbao-soobshhaet-2/)) that Rajabov and Mazorov had been "neutralized" while offering armed resistance and displayed photos of a set of weapons draped differently either a garden or in a courtyard. See also [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31894874.html). Journalist Anora Sarkorova published an [article](https://t.me/anorasarkorova/152) about the harassment of residents in Khorugh. She described security forces forcefully entering houses and illegally searching them, insulting residents, verbally harassing female residents and beating male residents. She also mentioned verbal sexual harassment of women in Ishkashim district and detention under fake charges of two men who had tried to defend the affected women.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 8-11, 2022: Continuing multi-level crackdown on civil society in/from GBAOThe authorities of Tajikistan, assisted by the authorities of the Russian Federation, were continuing their systematic, multi-level and trans-national crackdown on civil society in/from GBAO. On June 10, 2022, [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/953) reported that businesspeople who had supported the November 2021 protests with money or food were put under massive pressure by the security forces and threatened with charges of financing of terrorism. On June 11, 2022, the informal authorities Tolib Ayombekov, Munavvar Shanbiev and Niyezsho Gulobov were detained in Khorugh. This was first reported by [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/961) and later confirmed by the state news agency [Khovar](https://khovar.tj/2022/06/sitodi-bajniidoravii-tamini-amniyat-va-tartiboti-amiyat-dar-vmkb-habar-medi-ad/), which labeled the three individuals as “leaders of organized criminal groups”. See also [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31893774.html.). According to [a source of Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/4565), the detainees were immediately transported to Dushanbe by helicopter. On June 11, 2022, Muslim Navruzov (born in Khorugh) was deported from Russia to Tajikistan, one day after Jonibek Jamshedov had been arrested in Moscow for alleged violation of the migration legislation. This was reported by [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/963), which also mentioned that both individuals had addressed the President of Tajikistan in the video message of diaspora activists from GBAO in Moscow after the November 2021 arrests and were accused of calls for violent turnover of the constitutional order by the Tajikistani authorities.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 06, 2022: Joint statement of journalists and media, online petition demanding release of Ulfatkhonim MamadshoevaEleven journalist organizations and media outlets in Tajikistan in a [joint statement](https://mediacouncil.tj/2022/06/06/izhoroti-mushtarakai-sozmonhoi-ruznomanigorii-tojikiston-dar-paji-qazijahoi-ahiri-jomeai-ruznomanigorii-tojikiston/) (Russian translation on [Bomdod](https://bomdodrus.com/2022/06/06/strong-sovmestnoe-zajavlenie-zhurnalistskih-organizacij-tadzhikistana-po-sluchajam-davlenija-na-zhurnalistov-strong/), Russian summary on [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31885995.html)) under demanded the punishment of those responsible for beating up journalists and criticised recent cases of pressure on journalists, referring to the freedom of speech guaranteed in the Constitution. The statement was published after Tajik journalist and blogger had been [interrogated](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31884363.html) for several hours and beaten. In an [online petition](https://www.change.org/p/%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%B6%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BA%D1%83-%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%84%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4-%D0%BF%D1%8B%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8?recruiter=57439259&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_petition&recruited_by_id=712a4210-cbcb-0130-468f-00221967ea1d&utm_content=fht-33576652-ru-ru%3A2), journalists and civil rights activists criticize the detention and prosecution of civil rights activist Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva and demand her release. [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/927) reported the detention of a student from Murghab district in Dushanbe on June 02, 2022, by an unidentified security agency. In an [article](https://t.me/anorasarkorova/96) published on June 06, 2022, journalist Anora Sarkorova described the measures undertaken by the security agencies to erase evidence of the violent crackdown. According to her, activists who had tried to document torture had been beaten. Employees of the local administration and security agencies had systematically visited all houses in town, checked mobile phones and deleted all videos and photos related to the crackdown. Mobile phones of residents were also checked upon departure from GBAO by road.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 3-5, 2022[Human Rights Watch](https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/03/top-un-official-should-focus-rights-central-asia) at occasion of the upcoming visit of UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed to Tajikistan requested her to urge the authorities to “investigate police use of force leading to the deaths of civilians in May” and call “for the release of Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva” . An [online petition](https://www.change.org/stay-out-of-bloody-waters) called on the co-organizers of the UN Water Conference scheduled to take place in Dushanbe from June 6-9, 2022, and representatives of the international community to boycott Tajikistan as the host country unless the Tajik government agrees to an independent investigation into the recent human rights violations and to the immediate release of all political prisoners. An [Eurasianet article](https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-respected-activist-faces-prison-over-alleged-plotting-with-us-government) provided an update on the case of detained civil society activist Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, the misrepresentation of her meeting with foreign diplomats in state TV and the public silence of U.S. officials on her prosecution. An [article in The Insider](https://theins.ru/politika/251816) (in Russian) recapped the history of the conflict in GBAO and recent events, comparing the violent crackdown in Vamar (Rushan district, Tajikistan) with the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Bucha (Ukraine). An [analysis by U.S. scholar Edward Lemon](https://jamestown.org/program/tajikistans-crackdown-in-the-pamirs-causes-and-implications/) emphasized that the authorities were using incidents of violence to neutralize informal leaders and other independent activists, and drew attention to the scapegoating of the West by the authorities (in spite of massive financial support for the security sector of Tajikistan) as a phenomenon which was new in the context of Tajikistan.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY June 01, 2022: Russian discourse on the GBAO crackdownVarious Russian media outlets published articles on GBAO: A [Lenta.ru](https://m.lenta.ru/articles/2022/06/01/taj_afg/) article contextualized recent events in GBAO within the planned transition of power to Rustam Emomali. It also highlighted that the Tajikistani authorities were “juggling” with narratives to justify their crackdown, framing GBAO as part of a Western conspiracy toward Russia, as a Russian stronghold toward the West, as a separatist region toward China, and as allied with radicals and extremists in Afghanistan toward everybody. In an article in [News.ru](https://news.ru/cis/kto-pridet-cherez-pamir-gornyj-badahshan-mozhet-stat-putem-dlya-terroristov/), Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko blamed the Tajikistani authorities for destabilizing the situation in GBAO by using violence, refusing dialogue and behaving like an occupation administration. He warned that this instability and loss of legitimacy of the regime might be used by external forces in Afghanistan, and suggested a return of Russian diplomats and border guards to GBAO to prevent a further escalation. An article in [Vkrizis.ru](https://vkrizis.ru/world/den-zhanny-dark/) highlighted the fate of detained civil society activist and journalist Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva in the framework of the ongoing “repressions in Tajikistan and terror in Badakhshan”.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY May 30, 2022: Tajikistani citizens from GBAO disappeared upon arrival at Dushanbe Airport, synopsis of publicly available information about casualties[Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/882) reported that several Tajikistani citizens from GBAO had been forcibly disappeared upon arrival at Dushanbe Airport from Moscow on May 27, 2022, and that certain Tajikistani citizens from GBAO had been blacklisted and were deterred from leaving/entering the country. The [Roof-top Info document "What is happening in Tajikistan? Up-to-date information on recent events in Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and their historical background"](https://wechange.de/project/roof-top-info/file/background-information-on-the-situation-in-kh/download/Background-information-on-the-situation-in-Khorugh.pdf) has been updated and now includes a synopsis of what is publicly known about individual casualties in GBAO since November 2021. An [article in The Diplomate Magazine](https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/the-pamir-powderkeg/) titled "The Pamir Powderkeg" explains the background of "the latest outbreak of violence in GBAO (which) followed six months of tensions after nearly 30 years of both pressure and government neglect". Unfortunately, the full story is available only to subscribers. A [CABAR asia article](https://cabar.asia/ru/rol-rossii-na-pamire-igrok-ili-nablyudatel?_utl_t=tw) provides background information about the historical relationship between Russia and the people in the Pamirs and discusses the apparent unwillingness or inability of today's Russia to mediate the conflict in GBAO. An article about recent events in GBAO and wider context by Olga Abramenko was published in Russian by [Radio Svoboda](https://www.svoboda.org/a/zemlya-nad-oblakami-oljga-abramenko---o-nasilii-na-pamire/31865361.html) and in English by [ADC Memorial](https://adcmemorial.org/en/articles/it-is-impossible-dreams-of-peace-in-pamir/).
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY May 29, 2022: Fire on main market of Khorugh, pedestrian bridge collapsed, several members of Commission of 44 detainedDuring the night of May 28 to May 29, 2022, a fire on the main market of Khorugh destroyed many shops and caused the partial collapse of the pedestrian bridge across Gunt river. According to the Ministry of the Interior quoted by [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31873893.html), 14 shops and a market building were destroyed. Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko [posted a picture](https://t.me/anserenko/4488) of the remains of the shops and quoted a source alleging that the fire had been caused on purpose by soldiers after looting a shopping centre and that it had led to the explosion of a gas container. This is not confirmed by other sources, however. One [picture posted in social media](https://t.me/anorasarkorova/72?comment=1586) showed the partly destroyed bridge of which the North-eastern rope had apparently collapsed. Sources of [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31873893.html) reported that more than ten members of the "Commission of 44" had been summoned for interrogation about alleged reception of money from abroad and detained in Khorugh on May 28, 2022. This was confirmed by [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/864). The Commission of 44 had been formed after the November 2021 protests to investigate the suspected extrajudicial killings on November 25, 2021, together with the authorities. It had consisted of civil society representatives from Khorugh and different districts of GBAO. Ramziya Mirzobekova, an Asia-Plus journalist who had covered events in GBAO, [told Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31872937.html) about her interrogation by the State Committee for National Security. In another [article](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31873627.html), Radio Ozodi further deconstructed the accusations against Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva and Kholbash Kholbashev and their alleged "confessions".
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY May 27, 2022: Khorugh remains blocked and held in fearAccording to [sources of Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/856), Khorugh remained blocked and encircled by security forces. They were searching for five individuals who had been close to assassinated community leader Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov. As well, they were demanding the surrender of three individuals with informal authority and strongholds in specific areas (Khursand Mazorov, Tolib Ayombekov, Munavvar Shanbiev), threatening with a violent crackdown. The civilian population is terrorized and living in fear. During a visit to Dushanbe, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu in an [interview with Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31872088.html) expressed his condolence to the families of the victims of recent events in GBAO. In the context of protests in GBAO and other regions throughout the post-Soviet space, he suggested that governments should listen to the voice of the people, solve their economic problems and eliminate corruption. He avoided commenting on the allegations that "Western countries" were involved in recent protests.
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  • Roof-top Info SUMMARY May 19, 2022: New allegations about violent crackdown in Vomar (Rushan district)One day after the [violent crackdown by security forces on protesters in Vomar (Rushan district)](https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-crisis-gripped-government-opts-to-pick-deadly-fight-in-the-pamirs), there is still no consistent and verified information about what exactly has been happening since the morning of May 18, 2022, and about the number of casualties. Security forces continue to cut off Vomar from the outside world. However, there is an increasing amount of social media posts allegedly based on eyewitness reports which suggest that the crackdown continued even after the blockade of the road to Khorugh had been broken, and that security forces intentionally killed civilians who had not been involved in the protest. [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/733), referring to four sources from Vomar, reported that several residents of Vomar had been detained at their homes (probably on May 18, 2022) but had been found dead with fatal bullet wounds in the morning of May 19, 2022. This fits to another [post of Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/724), according to which armed security forces had entered houses, arbitrarily detained male residents, seized cellphones and looted, and to an [audio message](https://t.me/anserenko/4323) ([Russian summary](https://t.me/anserenko/4326) which alleged that persons injured on May 17, 2022, had been tortured to death by security forces and that corpses with traces of torture (bruises, burns of cigarettes) had been dumped unclothed close to the market of Vomar. [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/733) quotes a source claiming that an unknown number residents of the town had been killed by mortar fire when/after fleeing to the mountains. According to a [source of Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/724), security forces handed over the corpses of 17 persons to the relatives in the morning of May 19, 2022. The same source alleged that most of these individuals had only been injured the day before and security forces had prevented them from getting medical aid. Regarding the total number of casualties, [sources of Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/733) reported that more than 40 corpses had already been found. In his noon briefing on May 19, 2022, the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric, [stated](https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/highlight/2022-05-19.html): "The Secretary-General is concerned at the reports of increased tension and violence in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast of Tajikistan, including the reported loss of life. He calls for restraint and for all efforts to be made to resolve the current situation by peaceful means. The UN will continue to monitor the situation closely."
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  • Roof-top Info Amriddin Avolatshoev sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in a half-day trialOn April 29, 2022, Amriddin Avolatshoev was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment, according to a Radio Ozodi [article](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31827062.html). Avolatshoev is a prominent community organizer among the Tajik diaspora from GBAO in Russia and was one of the main organizers of the demonstration in front of the Embassy of Tajikistan in Moscow in solidarity of the protest in Khorugh in November 2021. He was arrested in Russia on January 11, 2021, extradicted to Tajikistan and forcibly disappeared. The [Civil Society Coalition Against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan](https://notorturetj.org/news/tadzhikistan-amriddin-alovatshoev-nahoditsya-pod-riskom-primeneniya-pytok) and [Human Rights Watch](https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/07/tajikistan-restore-internet-autonomous-region) raised concerns regarding the risk of torture and a doubted a fair trial. According to the Radio Ozodi [article](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31827062.html), Avolatshoev was convicted of alleged hostage-taking in a half-day trial to which his family had no access. His lawyers were informed late about the upcoming trial.
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  • Roof-top Info Arbitrary and intimidating arrests in KhorughAccording to a [source of Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/3769), in recent days more than eight individuals have been arrested by police when walking in the streets of Khorugh at nighttime, subjected to torture and forced to record video statements. The source assumes that this serves the purpose of intimidating local youth and detering them from holding night vigils. Apart from that, Serenko quotes a source according to which GBAO Governor Alisher Mirzonabot had ordered security forces to continue the pressure on public opinion and civil society in GBAO. [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31748494.html) reported on March 11, 2022, that Iftikhor Saidbekov had been arrested and beaten by police in Khorugh. He is one of the civil society representatives (so-called "Group of 44") who were tasked to monitor the investigations into the killing of Gulbiddin Ziyobekov in Tavdem and protesters in Khorugh on November 25, 2021.
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  • Roof-top Info Unknown people attempt unsuccessfully to stop Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov's car in KhorughAccording to [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31735909.html), [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/554) and sources of [Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/3731), unknown people in civilian clothes attempted to stop the car of Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov in the city center of Khorugh in the morning of March 4, 2022, and fired gunshots. It is unclear whether shots were fired into the air or targeted at the car. [Radio Ozodi](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31735909.html) reports that Mamadbokirov has been lightly injured in the right hand. Mamadbokirov is a former field commander of the United Tajik Opposition and a controversial figure in Khorugh (see [background information document](https://wechange.de/project/roof-top-info/file/background-information-on-the-situation-in-kh/download/Background-information-on-the-situation-in-Khorugh.pdf)). In January and February 2022, Tajikistani security forces had demanded his surrender and threatened to conduct a military operation against him. The days before March 4, 2022, the conflict seemed to have been frozen.
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  • WECHANGE Support Standortdaten in Ukraine, Russland und Belarus gelöscht2022-02-28: We have deleted all location data from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus due to security reasons. Take care + stay safe. We enabled the e2e encryption feature in RocketChat. See the following documentation on how to use it: https://docs.rocket.chat/guides/user-guides/security-bundle/end-to-end-encryption#changing-encryption-password
    Forum
  • Carla Schulte-Fischedick MITZEICHNEN BIS DONNERSTAG, 3 März! STAND WITH UKRAINE - End global fossil fuel addiction that feeds Putin’s war machineEinladung aus meinem Netzwerk an Organisationen gerne auch noch auf anderen Wegen weiter streuen - Danke! lg, Carla (aka LaKunaBi) https://www.with-ukraine.org/ Sign the statement as an organization We must act quickly - we call on groups to add their name before Thursday 3 March. Text: To European Nation States, the US, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea and all other importers of Russian oil and gas, We, the undersigned groups and organizations, stand in steadfast solidarity with the courageous people of Ukraine who are fighting not only for their own freedom and self-determination but for a worthwhile world. The invasion of Ukraine by Russian Federation forces under the direction of Vladimir Putin is a clear war against Ukrainian sovereignty and independence as well as a grave violation of human rights, international law, and global peace. This invasion confronts Europe with its darkest hours of the 21st century, and confronts the world with a grimmer future. But it's exactly these times that require us all to stand up, stand firm, stand united and take bold action against the forces who willingly threaten our collective existence! We call on you, our political deputies, to do exactly that. Do everything in your powers to stop Putin and his war machine, restore peace, and end this egregious murderous aggression. Enough is enough! The regime of Vladimir Putin is the clear and sole aggressor in this illegal war, and bears full responsibility for the atrocities committed by its war machine. It is equally clear that this war machine has been funded, fed, and fueled by the coal, oil and gas industries that are driving both the invasion that threatens Ukraine and the climate crisis that threatens humanity’s future. And the world’s fossil fuel addiction, in turn, is funding Putin’s warmongering — putting not only Ukraine but Europe itself at risk. Putin has deliberately weaponised fossil gas to increase his existing energy dominance over the European Union and to threaten European nations that would come to Ukraine’s aid. This needs to stop! We call on you to urgently work with your European colleagues on ending this fossil fuel addiction once and for all. We also call upon the governments of the countries outside Europe to reject and ban any import of fossil fuels from Russia and rapidly phase out all fossil fuels. Stop all trade and end investment in Gazprom, Rosneft, Transneft, Surgutneftegas, LukOil, Russian Coal and others, freeze the assets of such companies outside Russia, as well as freezing other Russian fossil-fuel assets. Western companies have to stop fossil fuel production in Russia. Putin’s income streams must be dried out as soon as possible – this also includes tackling direct and indirect investment into fossil fuel infrastructure in Russia (for example through export credit guarantees). However, it is imperative that the world not simply replace Russian-produced fossil fuels (in particular fossil gas) with fossil fuels from other countries (in particular liquefied natural gas). With an emerging priority of boycotting Russian oil and gas, fossil fuel expansion must be immediately halted, and nations worldwide must commit to the rapid and just transition away from all fossil fuels. Reliance on coal, oil and gas is the intentional embrace of death, misery, and collapse at a global scale. It is our duty to finally get real about that if we want to have a liveable future! A different tomorrow is feasible. A tomorrow free from Putin and other petro-dictators. A tomorrow free from climate-hostile and war-feeding fossil fuels. A vital and urgent step towards that future is the unequivocal support for the Ukrainian people, which should also include a commitment for a green recovery of Ukraine from the war ashes. Help us deliver that earnest support by also purposefully tackling Putin’s war budget and by taking bold steps towards the radical decarbonisation of our societies. Ukraine and Ukrainians are entitled to expect that support. Our joint, brighter future demands nothing less.
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  • Helmut Wolman Standort und Chat-History löschen zur Sicherheit vor Verfolgung[English version here](https://community.civilsocietycooperation.net/group/forum/note/delete-your-chat-history-if-you-are-in-russia/) Take care + stay safe. - Wir, das WECHANGE-Team, haben bei allen Inhalten (Projekten, Gruppen, Terminen, Posts und NutzerInnen) aus der Ukraine, Belarus und Russland die Ortsangaben entfernt um die Sicherheit der Nutzer zu erhöhen. - Bitte prüft, ob ihr Menschen aus diesen drei Ländern in euren Chatgruppe habt. Wenn ja, löscht die Historie in euren RocketChat groups. - Wir haben nun Ende-zu-Ende-Verschlüsselung im RocketChat optional ermöglicht. Das müsst ihr aber für jeden Kanal noch individuell aktivieren! (Die Option wird euch angezeigt, sobald ihr ein Encription-Passwort habt) Das geht dann nicht in Chats, die mit Projekten und Gruppen auf der Plattform verbunden sind. Lasst daher den privaten Gruppenchat unverschlüsselt und startet ggf. eine verschlüsselte Unterhaltungen. See the following documentation on how to use it: https://docs.rocket.chat/guides/user-guides/security-bundle/end-to-end-encryption#changing-encryption-password Für jeglichen weiteren Austausch tretet gerne dieser Gruppe bei https://wechange.de/group/stand-with-ukraine/
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  • Roof-top Info Security forces intimidate GBAO residents by coercing them to sign an extralegal documentAs reported by sources of [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/488) and Russian political scientist [Andrey Serenko](https://t.me/anserenko/3617), the State Committee for National Security is coercing state employees in Khorugh and other districts of GBAO to sign an extralegal document according to which they will not participate in demonstrations, in night vigils and in any actions to protect "leaders of organized criminal groups", threatening them with dismissal from their jobs. In a post on the [Telegram channel of Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/492), according to which parents of high school students also are affected and local authorities are involved in the coercion efforts, this is assessed as "another indication that Tajik authorities have mounted an extraordinary campaign of intimidation and threats against the residents of GBAO".
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  • Roof-top Info Preparations for military operation in Khorugh are ongoingAccording to a [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/461) published on February 12, 2022, and a [source](https://t.me/anserenko/3594) of Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko, snipers have occupied positions in the mountains around Khorugh. The barricades at the checkpoints in town have been reinforced with sandbags. Additional security forces under the Ministry of the Interior have been brought to Khorugh. Police and traffic police are coercing state employees as well as drivers of shared taxis and public transport to sign a document which demands a special military operation against some "organized criminal groups in Khorugh".
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  • Roof-top Info Reinforcement of security forces and infrastructure in KhorughOn February 11, 2022, the three checkpoints inside the town of Khorugh (Selkhoztekhnika in northwestern Khorugh, city centre, UPD in southeastern Khorugh) were reinforced. According to a [source](https://t.me/anserenko/3584) of Russian political scientist Andrey Serenko and a source of Roof-top Info, the number of security forces at each of the checkpoints was doubled. Security forces at the checkpoints are heavily armed. The [source](https://t.me/anserenko/3584) of Serenko mentioned that security forces had occupied positions in the multi-storey building under construction on the main crossroads in the city centre of Khorugh, and that reconnaissance drones had been observed above the neighbourhood Barkhorugh, the stronghold of Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov whom the authorities have threatened with conducting a military operation against him. According to [Pamir Daily News](https://t.me/pamirdailynews/455), several boxes were unloaded on the main crossroads which allegedly contain barbed wire. It is unclear whether these activities serve the preparation of a military operation in Khorugh or the preparation of an unscheduled visit by President Rahmon which is [allegedly being considered](https://t.me/anserenko/3587).
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  • Roof-top Info Human rights organizations express concerns about enforced disappearance, the internet blockade and the general situation in GBAOOn February 7, 2022, [Human Rights Watch (HRW)](https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/07/tajikistan-restore-internet-autonomous-region) claimed that full internet connectivity in the autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan (GBAO) should immediately be restored. HRW also drew attention to the case of Amriddin Alovatshoev and stated: "Concealing information about Alovatshoev’s detention makes his deprivation of liberty for three weeks an enforced disappearance a very serious violation of international law prohibited in all circumstances." According to HRW, the authorities should "immediately ensure and verify that Alovatshoev has access to a lawyer of his own choosing, has been brought before an independent court to determine the legality of his detention, and is receiving his full due process rights, including contact with his family and medical treatment" and Avolatshoev "should be released pending a fair trial on any credible charges". Alovatshoev had disappeared in Russia on January 11, 2022, and reportedly been forcedly returned to Tajikistan. The authorities confirmed on February 2, 2022, that he is in Tajikistan. However, his exact whereabouts are unknown and he has no access to any lawyer and to communication with the outside world. On February 7, 2022, the [Civil Society Coalition Against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan and the International Partnership for Human Rights](https://notorturetj.org/news/tadzhikistan-amriddin-alovatshoev-nahoditsya-pod-riskom-primeneniya-pytok) expressed their concerns that Avolatshoev might be tortured and detained under inhuman conditions. On January 14, 2022, the [Anti-Discrimination Centre (ADC) Memorial](https://adcmemorial.org/en/news/adc-memorial-informed-the-un-human-rights-council-structures-about-the-situation-in-the-gbao-of-tajikistan/) had already informed the UN Human Rights Council about the new wave of the violations of the Pamiris rights in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast of Tajikistan.
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  • Roof-top Info Representatives of GBAO civil society publish video appeal to President RahmonOn January 16, 2022, civil society representatives from the “Group of 44” published a video address to President Rahmon. Emphasizing their role as intermediators between the authorities and the local population, they expressed their wish to maintain peace and stability in GBAO and the country. They highlighted that security forces and authorities were undermining peace and stability by killing Gulbiddin Ziyobekov and opening fire on peaceful protesters on November 25, 2021, conducting one-sided investigations, disconnecting the internet, making provocative statements in assemblies and defaming the local population on TV. Therefore, the civil society representatives appealed to President Rahmon to take the situation in GBAO under his personal control. The video is available on [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlZftwt_MO4) and is summarized in ASIA-Plus articles in [English](https://asiaplustj.info/en/news/tajikistan/incidents/20220117/gbao-civil-society-activists-ask-the-president-to-take-the-situation-under-his-personal-control) and [Russian](https://asiaplustj.info/ru/news/tajikistan/20220117/prosim-vzyat-situatsiyu-pod-lichnii-kontrol-grazhdanskie-aktivisti-gbao-obratilis-k-prezidentu?tg_rhash=dad9b8f651f186).
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  • Roof-top Info Russian political scientist reports on signs that Tajik security forces might intend to stage a conflict in GBAOOn January 10, 2021, the Russian political scientist and Afghanistan expert Andrey Serenko, referring to anonymous sources in Khorugh, published a [post on his Telegram channel](https://t.me/anserenko/3329). It warned of potential intentions of Tajik security forces, inspired by recent events in Kazakhstan, to artificially stage a conflict in GBAO as a pretext for further action against targeted individuals and groups in the region. The anonymous source reports that civilian vigils have observed military pickup vehicles leaving the regional headquarters of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) in Khorugh on the road to Dushanbe late at night at least three times since the beginning of January. According to the source, the young men on the pickup vehicles were dressed in typical Afghan clothes. The road from Khorugh to Dushanbe runs parallel to Panj river, which forms the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, for more than 300 km. According to Serenko’s sources in Khorugh, the Tajik authorities have evacuated two citizens of the US and two citizens of the Russian Federation from Khorugh and informed them that they could not guarantee for their security. Serenko’s sources in Khorugh also draw attention to the fact that Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, has recently strongly highlighted the alleged existence of sleeper cells of international terrorism in Central Asia, which has also been reported by [ASIA-Plus](https://asiaplustj.info/en/news/tajikistan/politics/20220110/rahmon-draws-attention-of-csto-leaders-to-existence-of-sleeper-terrorist-cells-in-csto-member-nations) on January 10, 2021.
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  • Roof-top Info Prominent youth representatives from GBAO arrested upon arrival at Dushanbe AirportIn the past few days, three persons from GBAO who arrived at Dushanbe airport from abroad were arrested by the State Committee for National Security (GKNB). These include the youth representatives Sodik Amadbekov and Gulaoz Gulaozov, according to a Pamir Daily News [article](https://pamirdaily.com/%d0%b4%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b8%d1%85-%d0%b6%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%b5%d0%bb%d0%b5%d0%b9-%d1%85%d0%be%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b3%d0%b0-%d0%b7%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b6%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%b8-%d0%b2-%d0%b0%d1%8d%d1%80%d0%be/). They are accused of taking part in a fight after a soccer match in Khorugh in September 2020. Most attention, however, has been drawn by the [arrest](https://asiaplustj.info/en/news/tajikistan/laworder/20211231/tajik-mma-fighter-extradited-from-russia-to-tajikistan-faces-charge-of-inciting-regional-enmity-and-riots) of Chorshanbe Chorshanbiev who is well known as a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter and blogger. He is [accused](https://asiaplustj.info/ru/news/tajikistan/society/20220107/kto-takoi-chorshanbe-chorshanbiev-i-chem-on-izvesten) of provoking social, racial, national, regional, religious (confessional) enmity or discord and of organizing activities of an extremist organization. According to an Eurasianet [article](https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-mma-fighters-pro-pamiri-remarks-land-him-behind-bars), he might have been extradited by the Russian authorities at the request of the Tajik government and his arrest might have been triggered by a public statement in support of the November 25-28 protests in Khorugh. An ASIA-Plus [article](https://asiaplustj.info/ru/news/tajikistan/society/20220107/kto-takoi-chorshanbe-chorshanbiev-i-chem-on-izvesten) provides background information on Chorshanbiev. According to a Pamir Daily News [article](https://pamirdaily.com/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%ba%d1%83%d1%80%d0%b0%d1%82%d1%83%d1%80%d0%b0-%d0%b3%d0%b1%d0%b0%d0%be-%d0%be%d0%ba%d0%b0%d0%b7%d1%8b%d0%b2%d0%b0%d0%b5%d1%82-%d0%b4%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%b8%d0%b5/) and a Radio Ozodi [interview](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31642503.html), the public prosecutor’s office reached out to Chorshanbiev’s mother and suggested that she participated in a videotaped message to calm the public. In return, the judicial authorities would allegedly reduce the sentence against Chorshanbiev. However, Chorshanbiev's mother refused to participate in the video, arguing that her son had not violated any laws and had not called for illegal actions. In, his family thinks that his departure was well planned. Different social media comments related to these arrests show that many consider these arrests to be unfair and very targeted at active GBAO residents.
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  • Roof-top Info Statement questioning the territorial integrity of GBAO causes an outrage among citizens of the regionOn December 25, 2021, Pamir Daily News [reported](https://pamirdaily.com/%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%81%d0%b8%d0%b8-%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%bb%d0%b0%d1%81%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b3%d0%be-%d1%81%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%b5%d1%82%d0%b0-%d0%b3%d0%b1%d0%b0%d0%be-%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bf%d1%83/) that Hakim Davlatzod, a member of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) Council from Darvaz District (Western GBAO) announced at the Council’s meeting that if the instability in Khorugh continues, Darvaz and Vanj districts might exit GBAO. Davlatzod explained that the population of Darvaz and Vanj did not feel safe because of the situation in Khorugh. According to Pamir Daily News, Davlatzod most likely read out a text prepared by the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), whose head Yatimov had allegedly threatened the civil society representatives of Khorugh on December 14, 2021, with withdrawal of Darvaz, Vanj and Ishkashim Districts from GBAO’s regional territory. According to an [article](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31631428.html) by RFE/RL Radio Ozodi, Davlatzod’s speech was broadcasted on the regional TV channel “Badakhshan”, followed by various statements by residents of Darvaz and Vanj districts about negative impacts of the events in Khorugh. The author therefore suggests that Davlatzod’s proposal is part of a wider campaign. Davlatzod himself refused to give comments to Radio Ozodi. Parviz Mullodzhanov, an independent political expert, views the statement as one form of putting pressure on civil society representatives. Other interviewees told Ozodi that the removal of the autonomous status of GBAO has been in discussions at the government level for some years now and reassigning part of the territory of GBAO to a neighboring region might be a way of weakening or repealing the autonomy of GBAO. The words of Davlatzod spread quickly and caused an outrage among residents of GBAO. Pamir Daily News published the [statement](https://pamirdaily.com/%d0%b2%d1%8b%d1%85%d0%be%d0%b4%d1%86%d1%8b-%d0%b2%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b4%d0%b6%d0%b0-%d0%b8-%d1%8f%d0%b7%d0%b3%d1%83%d0%bb%d1%8f%d0%bc%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%82%d0%b2%d0%b5%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%bb%d0%b8-%d0%b4%d0%b5/) of residents of Vanj district living in Russia in which they reject Davlatzod’s announcement, calling it provocative. The authors state that Davlatzod does not represent the people of Vanj district which has historically been part of Badakhshan. “Let’s not sell Badakhshan” is the title of a [video](https://www.facebook.com/100006395445320/videos/1273626399770646/) posted by Azim Yakin on his Facebook page, which has been viewed more than 15,000 times. Yakin criticizes Davlazod for proposing to separate Darvaz from GBAO and emphasizes that Darvaz and its people are inseparable from Badakhshan.
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  • Roof-top Info Comprehensive ASIA-Plus article summarizing events in Khorugh and GBAO since November 25, 2021One month after the killing of Gulbiddin Ziyobekov, ASIA-Plus published a comprehensive [article](https://asiaplustj.info/ru/news/tajikistan/society/20211225/segodnya-mesyats-sobitiyam-v-horoge-chto-izmenilos-i-chto-budet-dalshe?tg_rhash=dad9b8f651f186) (in Russian) on December 25, 2021. It recapitulates what is known about the killing of Ziyobekov on November 25, 2021, and summarizes the events during the subsequent demonstration in Khorugh, the efforts to investigate the killing, the propaganda and intimidation attempts by the authorities. The author quotes Parviz Mulladzhonov, a political expert, assuming that the authorities themselves might be uncertain about a way out of the crisis. Mulladzhonov opines that the current repressive approaches are counterproductive and extend the crisis even further.
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  • Roof-top Info Request by diaspora Tajiks to restore internet connection in GBAODiaspora Tajiks from GBAO have addressed the Communication Service under the Government of Tajikistan and the mobile operators in the country in an open letter. They criticize that internet has been disconnected in most districts of GBAO since November 25, 2021, and emphasize that this deprives Tajiks living abroad from the basic need to communicate with their family members. Apart from that, they highlight the negative impact of internet disconnection for students from GBAO applying for university studies, students attending online courses, as well as small and medium-size enterprises. They request the Communication Service and the mobile operators to take quick action to restore internet connection on the whole territory of GBAO. ASIA-Plus has summarized the open letter in an [article](http://asiaplustj.info/en/news/tajikistan/incidents/20211223/natives-of-gbao-studying-and-working-abroad-apply-to-tajikistans-communication-service-agency) (in English). The original text of the [open letter](https://pamirdaily.com/%d1%83%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b5%d0%bd%d1%86%d1%8b-%d0%b3%d0%b1%d0%b0%d0%be-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b8%d0%b2%d0%b0%d1%8e%d1%89%d0%b8%d0%b5-%d0%b7%d0%b0-%d1%80%d1%83%d0%b1%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%be%d0%bc/) (in Russian) can be found on the website of Pamir Daily News. As far as the consequences of internet disconnection for the daily life of people in GBAO are concerned, Radio Ozodi published an [article](https://rus.ozodi.org/a/31619474.html) (in Russian) on December 21, 2021, quoting the accounts of three individuals. The author points out that the restoration of the internet connection actually was part of an agreement between the authorities and the demonstrators which led to the end of the demonstration on November 28, 2021.
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  • Roof-top Info President Rahmon's speech to ParliamentThe President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, gave his annual speech to both chambers of Parliament on December 21, 2021, without mentioning the recent events in Khorugh and GBAO. In an [article](http://asiaplustj.info/ru/news/tajikistan/politics/20211222/o-chem-ne-skazal-prezident-tadzhikistana-v-svoem-poslanii-parlamentu?tg_rhash=dad9b8f651f186) (in Russian) published on December 22, 2021, ASIA-Plus quotes political experts Amiri Zamon and Abdumalik Kodirov commenting on this. Zamon assumes this was an attempt to play down the significance of those events. However, he also highlights that the ignorance of the problems in GBAO might have further negative impact on local people's trust in the authorities and extend the period of uncertainty. Kodirov mentions he would have expected a statement on human rights in the context of the recent events in Khorugh.
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  • Roof-top Info Analysis of the current situation in Khorugh by local citizen published on Pamir Daily NewsOn December 20, 2021, Pamir Daily News published an [analysis of the situation in Khorugh](https://pamirdaily.com/%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%b7-%d1%81%d0%b8%d1%82%d1%83%d0%b0%d1%86%d0%b8%d0%b8-%d0%b2-%d0%b3%d0%b1%d0%b0%d0%be-%d0%b8%d0%b7-%d1%83%d1%81%d1%82-%d0%bc%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b3%d0%be/) submitted by a local citizen (in Russian). The author contextualizes the recent events and emphasizes it was the fourth time since 2012 that actions by security forces which were planned badly and implemented unprofessionally led to civic unrest. He/she reflects on the people's loss of trust in state representatives who have failed to provide the required support and protection (with the remarkable exception of former GBAO Governor Fayzov). As far as the consequences of periodic actions by security forces and subsequent civic unrest are concerned, the author draws attention to social consequences like emigration and brain drain. He/She criticizes the internet disconnection and subsequent information blockade as a form of collective punishment which upset even supporters of the authorities. It has negatively impacted the functioning of public services, education, banks, enterprises and international aid organizations, paralyzed daily life in the region and harmed the local population not only materially but also morally.
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