Against the well-known human rights activist Izzat Amon, who was sentenced in October last year by a Tajik court to nine years in prison, a new criminal case has been initiated. According to the relatives of the human rights activist, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan accuses him of major fraud in the amount of $10,000.
The Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan said that a new criminal case had been initiated against Izzat Amon on charges of fraud on an especially large scale.
“A resident of the city of Bokhtar, Nurullo Vohidov, filed a complaint against him. He stated that the convict hadn’t yet returned $10,000 to him. In connection with the initiation of a new criminal case, Izzat Amon was transferred from the colony to the pre-trial detention center,” the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed.
“In accordance with Article 247 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan, part 4, fraud on an especially large scale is punishable by a fine of 125,400 somoni or imprisonment for a period of 8 to 12 years,” says lawyer Jamshed Bobokalonov. “But if the damage is fully repaid, then on the basis of Article 5 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On amnesty”, adopted on September 6, 2021, the criminal proceedings should be terminated.”
Izzat Amon’s family considers the new criminal case fabricated, since, according to them, they fully repaid the debt of $10,000 in 2010. According to them, Nurullo Vohidov’s complaint was received by the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately after the relatives of Izzat Amon compensated the damage to the last petitioner, a resident of Jaihun district, in the amount of 232 somoni.
Journalists found a video on YouTube where Nurullo Vohidov claims that Izzat Amon hasn’t yet returned $10,000 to him. However, it wasn’t possible to find the applicant himself.
It’s worth recalling that earlier 12 people filed notices against Izzat Amon. They claimed that in the period from 2014 to 2020 they gave him money for exemption from criminal liability, temporary registration and annulment of the court decision on deportation, but the human rights activist didn’t provide legal assistance and didn’t return them money.
Izzat Amon was deported from Russia in March last year and upon arrival he was immediately detained on charges of fraud on an especially large scale. The relatives of the human rights activist tried to compensate for the damage caused to the applicants, but they couldn’t find one of them (a resident of Jaihun district) before the trial and return him 232 somoni (about $20).
The relatives and friends of Izzat Amon consider the case politically motivated. He has repeatedly criticized the government of Tajikistan for its inability to protect the rights of its citizens in Russia and blunders in managing the country’s economy.
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