Farm chief from Khatlon province reportedly sentenced to 5 years in prison after watching opposition media outlet

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reported on January 3 that the chairman of a farming unit in Dousti district, Khatlon province has been jailed for “cooperating” with Isloh TV, a website close to the government opposition.

The Khatlon regional court sentenced the 60-year-old Mahmoudjon Bobomurodov to five years in prison on December 19, 2023. 

The sentenced followed his conviction on charges of public calls for forcible changes to the constitutional order in the country through the media and or the Internet (Article 307 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code).

Bobomurodov was reportedly found guilty of watching and promoting the programs and materials of Isloh TV, and of sending a letter to the station where he complained about the lack of water in the Dousti district. 

In the letter that was published by Isloh TV on August 2, 2023 the author reportedly complains about lack of water in the Dousti district, as well as activities of the district head Davron Nishonzoda and Navzamin jamoat head Suhrob Aminov.

The media outlet does not disclose the name of the letter’s author.