On 26 of June the whole world will commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1997 with a view to eradicate torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (TCIDT) and ensure the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

On 15 of June, the NGO Coalition against Torture in Tajikistan launched a campaign "Support the victim of torture! Stop impunity!", that will last throughout 26^th of June.

Starting from 15 of June the Coalition will publish one story per day about the victims of torture and ill treatment on its website and social media accounts.

What can you do? Add comments under the stories; send messages of encouragement for the victims of torture and ill-treatment and their families. You can also contribute by sending a short video (maximum 2 minutes) and download it under the concrete story using the #notorturetj hashtag or send it to the Coalition’s e-mail notorture.tj@gmail.com, as well by reposting the stories.

All words of encouragement will be delivered to the victims of torture and ill-treatment and their families, and published on the Coalition’s website on the final day of the campaign.

Support the Victims of Torture! Stop impunity!

2. Shakhbol Mirzoev

On 6 March 2014 the young conscript Shakhbol Mrizoev turned to the medical post of the Military Unit 2620 of Rudaki district with toothache complain.  However Usmon Gayratov, a serviceman and medical attendant, harassed and attempted to humiliate him. When the young man ignored the provocation, the medical attendant grabbed and threw him on his back on the floor. Doctors diagnosed him with a fracture to the fifth spinal disk, damage to various organs, and the loss of sensitivity in his arms and legs.

In order to cover the expensive surgery in Mosow, his parents sold their house. At the moment it is not clear whether he will ever be able to walk again. He can’t even breathe himself, after the surgery Shakhbol was diagnosed with pneumonia and at the moment uses the machine for artificial lung ventilation.

On 20 June 2014, Usmon Gayratov was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment by the Military Court of Dushanbe.