Tadzhikistan
Urgent appeals
529. On 29 March 1993 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government on behalf of Mirbobo Mirrakhimov, former chairman of Tadzhikistan's state radio and television company; Akhmadsho Kamilov, former director of national television; Khayriddin Kasymov and Khurshed Nazarov, television journalists. It was reported that these persons fled Tadzhikistan after government forces entered Dushanbe on 10 December 1992, but were all detained in January 1993 by local police in neighbouring states (Mirbobo Mirrakhimov in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and Akhmadsho Kamilov, Khayriddin Kasymov and Khurshed Nazarov in Osh, Kyrgyzstan) and handed over to the Tadzhik authorities. They were all reportedly charged with "conspiracy to overthrow the Government using the mass information media". According to the reports, they were being held at investigation-isolation prison (Sledizolator or SIZO) No. 1 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Dushanbe and had been severely beaten during interrogation. As a result Khayriddin Kasymov had reportedly suffered a broken nose and jaw and had several teeth knocked out; Akhmadsho Kamilov had not been allowed to sleep or to sit for long periods. All four men had reportedly been denied access to medical treatment and to lawyers.
530. Another urgent appeal was sent to the Government on 15 April 1993 concerning Bozo Sobiron, a poet and, until November 1992, a leading member of the opposition Democratic Party, who was arrested on about 26 March 1993 at the airport of Dushanbe by procuracy officials. According to information received, he was being held at the investigation-isolation prison of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and had been denied access to his lawyer and family. Fears were expressed that he might be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
