Tajik writer Ravshan Yormuhammad, father of the jailed human rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov, died in Dushanbe yesterday at 76.

He was buried in his native district of Jaloliddin Balkhi in the Khatlon province the same day, a source at the Tajik Writers’ Union told Asia-Plus today morning. 

Ravshan Yormuhammad is author of a number of stories and novels including Shohbuzi Safed, Qissai Shahri Bejon yo Sargizashti Dukhtari Bofanda, Gurkob, Qissahoi ‘Budu Nabud’, Barmakiyon, Tufon Nuh, and Khob va Bedori. 

Recall, his son Buzurgmehr Yorov, who had been representing several co-defendants in the case against the banned Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan’s (IRPT), was arrested by police on September 28, 2015 on fraud and forgery charges, unrelated to his role in the IRPT case.

Shortly afterwards, additional extremism related-charges were brought against him, and in October 2016 the Dushanbe City Court sentenced Buzurgmehr Yorov to 23 years.

Since then, a further three cases were instigated against him on charges of fraud, “disrespecting” the court, insulting government officials and insulting “the leader of the Nation”, and sentenced to an additional five years in prison.