In Tajikistan, the court sentenced journalist Abdullo Gurbati to 7.5 years in prison. He was found guilty on all three articles incriminated to him: Article 330, part 1 (“Public insult to a representative of the authorities in the performance of his official duties or in connection with their performance”), Article 328, part 1 (“Violence not dangerous to life or health, or the threat of violence, as well as the threat of destruction of property against a representative of the authorities or his relatives in connection with the performance of his duties”) and Article 307(2), part 2 (“Participation in an extremist community”) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The journalist’s lawyer, Abdurahmon Sharipov, said that in his final statement, the journalist declared that he was innocent and denied any involvement in any extremist group. “Abdullo Gurbati asked the court to find him not guilty and pass a verdict of not guilty,” he said, stressing that he would appeal the court’s verdict to higher instances.
Abdullo Gurbati was detained on June 15 on suspicion of using violence against a government official. A month later, on July 19, at a press conference at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it turned out that the journalist was suspected of collaborating with the banned IRPT. At the same time, official representatives of the IRPT denied this accusation, saying that Abdullo Gurbati is in no way connected with them.
Gurbati is a co-author and cameraman of some reports by Daleri Imomali, and he was summoned to the Department of Internal Affairs of Shohmansur district for interrogation in the case of illegal business activities against Daler Imomali.
After he left the investigator’s office and went to the checkpoint of the DIA, he was stopped by a guard policeman. “I had no thoughts and intentions to conflict with the police officers. They let me go. I wanted to get out, but at the checkpoint an officer of the DIA of Shohmansur district blocked my way. Then I was detained and returned to the building of the Department. Now they are accusing me of beating a policeman,” the lawyer told reporters Abdullo Gurbati’s words.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the authorities of Tajikistan to release immediately Tajik bloggers Daleri Imomali and Abdullo Gurbati.
The website of this international human rights organization posted the material “Tajikistan: Free bloggers, respect freedom of the media”, which states that “Imomali and Gurbati are persecuted for their professional activities, despite the fact that they are protected by the laws of Tajikistan and international obligations regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the media.”
