UN Committee acknowledges the fact of torture on Ismanov’s case against Tajikistan

The Human Rights Committee has brought the considerations concerning Ismanov’s case against Tajikistan in accordance with the Facultative Protocol to the International Pact on civil and political rights. This was reported by the Public Foundation Notabene.

Recall, on September 3, 2011, there was a powerful blast in the courtyard of the Regional Office for the fight against organized crime under the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Sog region. As a result, a driver and three employees of the Regional Office were killed; 26 employees and five residents of Khujand got injuries of varying degrees. In this case, 53 people were on the dock, including the author of the message, Ilkhom Ismanov. This case is well known to the public as the case of “53 Istaravshans”.

In his appeal to the Human Rights Committee, Ismanov complained of torture against him in order to obtain a confession of a crime; keeping unconnected with the outside world; refusal of medical assistance; unlawful and unfounded detention; and imprisonment, violation of his right to fair consideration of his case in court.

The UN Human Rights Committee recognized the fact of torture against Ismanov, as well as the fact of unlawful and arbitrary detention and imprisonment, and a violation of his rights to a fair hearing of his case in court. The Committee calls on the Tajik authorities (a) to conduct a careful, prompt and impartial investigation into his allegations of torture and cruel treatment and to institute criminal proceedings against those responsible officers; (b) to provide the authors with adequate compensation for the violations. Tajikistan is also required to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such violations in the future.