The Khujand city court sentenced the stand-up comedian and journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov to 12 years in prison on July 11. The sentence followed his conviction on charges of misappropriate of state funds, document forgery and false denunciation. The court also imposed a 123,913 somoni fine. Mirsaidov will serve his term a high-security penal colony. Читать далее Khujand city court sentences stand-up comedian and journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov to 12-year prison
Diplomatic missions call on the Tajik authorities to reconsider verdict against Khairullo Mirsaidov
The Embassies of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States in Dushanbe and the EU Delegation to Tajikistan have expressed their common grave concern over the trial of the independent journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov. Читать далее Diplomatic missions call on the Tajik authorities to reconsider verdict against Khairullo Mirsaidov
Prominent Tajik Journalist Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison
KHUJAND, Tajikistan — A court in Tajikistan has sentenced prominent journalist Hairullo Mirsaidov to 12 years in prison.
Читать далее Prominent Tajik Journalist Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison
Prosecutor asks for 13-year sentence for stand-up comedian and journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov
Raufkhon Alizoda, a prosecutor in the trial of stand-up comedian and journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov, yesterday asked the court to sentence Khairullo Mirsaidov to a 13-year prison term and impose a 123,913 somoni fine. Mirsaidov, who faces charges of misappropriate of state funds, document forgery and false denunciation, maintains his innocence. Читать далее Prosecutor asks for 13-year sentence for stand-up comedian and journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov
Prominent Tajik Journalist Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison
KHUJAND, Tajikistan — A court in Tajikistan has sentenced prominent journalist Hairullo Mirsaidov to 12 years in prison. Читать далее Prominent Tajik Journalist Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison
Tendency of development of civil society organizations in Tajikistan discussed in Dushanbe
Tendency of development of civil society organizations in Tajikistan have been discussed in Dushanbe. Читать далее Tendency of development of civil society organizations in Tajikistan discussed in Dushanbe
‘Worst Human Traffickers’ Include Russia, Belarus, Iran, Turkmenistan
WASHINGTON — In a new report, the U.S. State Department says Belarus, Iran, Russia, and Turkmenistan remain among the worst offenders of human trafficking and forced labor. Читать далее ‘Worst Human Traffickers’ Include Russia, Belarus, Iran, Turkmenistan
Tajik stand-up comedian’s case expected to move to court tomorrow
The Sughd regional prosecutor’s office has reportedly completed investigation into the case of Tajik stand-up comedian and independent journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov and it is expected to move to a court tomorrow.
“Investigation into the case of Khairullo Mirsaidov has been completed and the case is expected to move to a court tomorrow,” Ms. Gulchehra Ghoibnazarova, a chief aide to the Sughd chief prosecutor, told Asia-Plus today afternoon.
Recall, Khairullo Mirsaidov was put under custody on December 5, 2017 and charges of misappropriate of state funds (Article 245, Part 4 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code), inciting national racial, regional or religious enmity (Article 189, Part 2), document forgery (Article 340, Part 1) and false denunciation (Article 346, Part 2) were officially brought against him on December 8, 2017.
The charges brought against Mirsaidov carry up to a total of 21 years in prison under Tajikistan’s Penal Code.
Khairullo Mirsaidov in November last year applied to the president, prosecutor-general and Sughd governor, asking them to pay attention to problems facing the Khujand-based KVN team because of some corrupt officials in the Sughd province. Mirsaidov publicly stated that Olim Zohidzoda, the head of the Sughd directorate for youth and sports affairs, demanded a US$1,000 bribe.
Mirsaidov failed to produce evidence to support his application against Zohidzoda. Zohidzoda has filed a counterclaim against Mirsaidov accusing him of defamation.
Mirsaidov is an independent journalist and a former correspondent of the Dushanbe-based Asia-Plus news agency and Germany’s Deutsche Welle radio.
He is also the leader of the Tajik national KVN comedy team, a stand-up comedy competition which originated among university students in the Soviet Union and is still popular in many post-Soviet states.
Mirsaidov’s case has drawn international attention, with the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) releasing a statement in December calling on Tajikistan to release Mirsaidov and drop all charges against him.
Amnesty International (AI) on January 25 urged the Tajik authorities to “immediately” release Khairullo Mirsaidov, who has been in pretrial detention for more than a month. Amnesty International said in its statement that “Khairullo Mirsaidov is a prisoner of conscience who is being punished solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.”
New head of the Sughd department for youth and sports affairs appointed
A new head of the Sughd department for youth and sports affairs has been appointed. Читать далее New head of the Sughd department for youth and sports affairs appointed
United States concerned over freedom of expression and detention of Khairullo Mirsaidov In Tajikistan
In a statement delivered in Vienna, Ms. Michele Siders, Chargé d’Affaires, the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, noted on April 12 that the United States is deeply concerned by the April 5 extension of the pre-trial detention of journalist Khairullo Mirsaidov, who was arrested last December. Читать далее United States concerned over freedom of expression and detention of Khairullo Mirsaidov In Tajikistan