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 26th 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!

13. Faruhjon Haytaliev

Faruhjon Haytaliev had only 8 months left before the completion his service in the army. He was recruited by Temurmalik Military Commissariat in October 2014 and served in Unit 2847 of the Border Guards under the authority of the State Committee on National Security of Tajikistan. Throughout the year Haytaliev along with other fellow servicemen was reportedly abused and beaten by Alikhon Tuichiev who was drafted 6 months earlier. 

On 11 January 2016 Haytaliev was repeatedly beaten by Tuichev for talks in the classroom. The same night in the army barracks, the senior conscript heated Faruhjon with a rifle butt.

At the result of these beatings, the young soldier felt unwell and he could not even stand on his feet, and was lying down in the barracks. For the whole week no one had examined the soldier, and he failed to receive adequate medical care.  

On 18 January Faruhjon was taken to the medical unit where he died on 20 January. 

In May 2016 Alikhon Tuichiev was charged with ”violating the code of military conduct” and “intentionally causing bodily injury” and was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment in the correctional colony of strict regime.

Two senior officers – the head of the military unit 2847 of the Border Guards under the authority of the State Committee on National Security of Tajikistan, Sufi Sufiev and his Deputy Lieutenant Boburjon Ortikov were charged with “abuse of authority or duty“ and were sentenced to four years of imprisonment in the correctional colony of medium regime.