Free Legal Advisory Services in Dushanbe

On June 30, 2025, as part of activities timed to coincide with the International Torture Victims Support Day (marked every year on June 26), lawyers of the civil society’s Coalition against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan have provided on-site legal advisory services across the City of Dushanbe.

The purpose of these activities is to provide free legal assistance to the capital’s residents and tell about available human rights protection mechanisms, particularly in situations when it comes to torture, cruel treatment and other abuse and brutality forms.

As a matter of hours, lawyers consulted 11 persons. Citizens were interested in criminal, civil and tax issues. Especially sensitive were applications related to torture and violation of rights in places of detention. Here are some of questions: Has a torture victim the right to compensation, and who should pay it? Where to apply, if torture was practiced in Pre-Trial Detention Facility (SIZO) or colony? Are there any lawyers in Tajikistan who protect the rights of torture victims? Can one file a complaint to court against actions of police officers or prison administration? How one can receive psychological assistance following act of violence on the part of defense and law enforcement agencies? What is to be done, if local authorities are not responding to complaints - Can one approach international authorities, for example, the United Nations? Whether relatives have the right to know where apprehended person is being kept?

Also, there were not neglected tax legislation issues — in particular, taxation of self-employed, individual entrepreneurs, and those who work for foreign employers, while being in the territory of Tajikistan.