Statement of the NGO Coalition against Torture in Tajikistan on the death of the Umedjon Tojiev

Statement of the NGO Coalition against Torture in Tajikistan on the death of the 34 year-old Umedjon Tojiev in the Central hospital of the Main Directorate of Implementation of Criminal Punishment in Sughd Province

The NGO Coalition against Torture in Tajikistan expressed its serious concern about the death of 34 year-old Umedjon Tojiev, who died on 19 January 2014 at the Central Hospital of Main Directorate of Implementation of Criminal Punishment (MDICP) in Sughd Province, where he was brought from medical attention on January 4, 2014 from the Investigative Isolator (pre-trial detention center) of MDICP of Khujand.

Earlier it was reported by local media that on 2 November 2013 the 34 -year-old resident of Chorkuh Jamoat of Isfara district, a board member of the Islamic Revival Party’s Isfara branch, Umedjon Tojiev, jumped out of a third-floor window of the police department building, injuring his leg. According to his lawyer, Tojiev was forced to take this action by torture at the hands of officials of the investigative group.

According to the relatives, Umedjon Tojiev was attached to electric current, and so that traces of torture did not remain, police officials sent the electric current through wet cloth wrapped around his hands. Another method of torture used, according to relatives, was to put a plastic bag over his head, to to limit the supply of air. In addition, he was beaten all over his body, and in order to leave traces of the beating, they put a leather jacket on his body.

Immediately following the incident Tojiev was placed in the intensive care unit of the Central City Hospital in Isfara; in mid-November Tojiev was transferred from the hospital to Investigative Isolator (pre-trial detention center) #2 in Khujand.

According to the lawyer, despite the fact that Tojiev was still in need of medical treatment he was not promptly transferred to a medical facility. Tojiev was admitted to the hospital of the Investigative Isolator (pre-trial detention center) #2 in Khujand.

NGO Coalition against Torture in Tajikistan calls on the Tajik authorities to:

• conduct immediate, thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the death of Umedjon Tojiev and the allegations of torture in the Department of Internal Affairs of Isfara town;

• ensure that those involved will be held accountable before the law;

• inform the relatives of the deceased and the general public about the progress and results of the investigation on a regular basis.

The NGO Coalition Against Torture emphasizes that this was not the first case of death resulting from torture in pre-trial detention and correctional facilities in Tajikistan over the past few years. In particular, we draw attention to the following cases:

Safarali Sangov – 37 year old Safarali Sangov died 5 March 2011 in the National Medical Hospital “Kara Bolo”, four days after he was brought to the hospital unconscious with many bodily injuries from the Department of Internal Affairs – 1 of Sino district of Dushanbe city.

Bahromiddin Shodiev – died on 30 October 2011 at age 28 in intensive care unit of the National Medical Center, where he was taken from the Department of Internal Affairs of the capitol’s Shohmansur District as a result of torture.

Dilshodbek Murodov – diedin August 2009 at the age of 34 in the Correctional Colony # 3/1 of the Main Directorate for Implementation of Criminal Punishment of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Ismoil Bachajonov – died on January 2011 at the of 32 in Investigative Isolator (pre-trial detention) #1 in Dushanbe as a result of torture.

Ismonboi Boboev – died as a result of torture in February 2010 at the age of 30 during the interrogation in the Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Interior in Sughd Oblast.

Khushed Bobokalonov – died at the age of 33 in June 2009 after being detained en route to the Department of Internal Affairs of the capitol’s Ismoili Somoni District.

Hamzaali Ikromzoda – died at the age of 27 on 20 September 2012 in the Correctional Colony # 3/1 in Dushanbe, where he was serving a sentence for a prior crime.

Tajik authorities should conduct effective investigations of all cases of death in pre-trial detention and prisons, namely, I. Boboev, D. Murodov, Kh. Bobokalonov. The NGO Coalition against Torture expresses its concern about lengthy and inconclusive investigations in these cases.