Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service says Tajik lawyer Abdulmajid Rizoyev, who works with the “Durakhshon Guruh” Public Association, has been jailed for posts on his Facebook page, which were considered by investigation as “extremist and destabilizing the national security.”

A court in Dushanbe’s Shohmansour district sentenced Abdulmajid Rizoyev to 5½ years in prison on June 14.      

The court has not yet issued an official announcement of its decision, but Rizoyev’s defense lawyer, Ms. Dilafrouz Samadova, says the investigation considered publications posted on Rizoyev’s Facebook page “extremist and destabilizing the national security.” 

According to her, prosecutors have analyzed several posts on her client’s Facebook page and accused Rizoyev of “hidden public calls for carrying out extremist activities, which can destabilize the national security.”  

Prosecutors, in particular, called the aphorism “Wise government fights the roots of protest, ignorant government fights protesters” posted on Rizoyev’s Facebook page a hidden extremism.

The defense lawyer said that her client was not guilty and did not violate the laws.

Tajikistan’s Penal Code of Tajikistan criminalizes public justification of terrorism and extremist activities.  Amendments regarding criminalization of public justification of terrorism and extremist activities have been made to the country’s Penal Code and the president signed the law on these amendments on November 14, 2016.

Article 179 (3) stipulates that public calls for committing terrorism-related crimes and (or) public justification of terrorist activities are punishable by between five and ten years in jail.

The same acts committed with use of mass media are punishable by between ten and fifteen years in jail.

Article 307 (1) stipulates that public calls for extremist activities and (or) public justification of extremist activities are punishable by between three and five years in jail.

The same acts committed with use of mass media are punishable by between five and ten years.