On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the respect for human rights in Tajikistan.
The situation in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Parliament strongly condemns 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 also expresses its 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.
MEPs remind the Tajik authorities that the legitimate fight against terrorism and violent extremism should not be used as a pretext to suppress opposition activity, and recalls that the fundamental freedoms of all Tajik citizens and the rule of law must be guaranteed. They also urge 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. MEPs finally demand that people arbitrarily detained are immediately released and all charges against them dropped and urge for independent investigations into the violent clashes and the right to fair trials.
The resolution was adopted by 520 votes in favour, 24 against with 31 abstentions.
