(Berlin, September 29, 2025) – In a troubling indictment of human rights abuses in Tajikistan, 11 organizations have come together to call for the immediate release of Buzurgmehr Yorov, a human rights lawyer who has been wrongfully imprisoned for a decade. Serving a staggering 23-year sentence, Yorov’s plight underscores the dire state of civil liberties in the country, particularly for those who dare to advocate for political opposition.
Yorov, now 54, has garnered a reputation as one of Tajikistan’s most courageous attorneys, representing individuals who have been unjustly targeted by the government for their political beliefs. His troubles began in September 2015, when he took on the legal representation of members of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, one of the few officially recognized opposition parties in the nation. Shortly thereafter, this party was labeled a terrorist organization and banned by the authorities, who have since cracked down on dissent with alarming ferocity.
On September 28, 2015, police arrested Yorov during a raid of his home and legal office, which was conducted without a warrant. He faced an array of charges, including forgery, fraud, and extremism—allegations widely considered to be fabricated and politically motivated. These charges were notably preceded by an interview in which Yorov publicly condemned the torture of one of his clients and urged fellow lawyers to join him in defending detained members of the Islamic Renaissance Party.
In the following months, Yorov was subjected to brutal treatment while in pretrial detention, where he endured beatings and was held in solitary confinement for an extended period. An unjust trial marred by blatant violations of due process concluded on October 6, 2016, with a 23-year prison sentence imposed on him. Although there have been instances where his sentence was shortened under mass amnesties, the authorities have consistently retaliated against him by levying new, spurious charges. The latest of these charges, brought forth in July 2023, has extended his sentence further, pushing his expected release date to 2043, when he will be 72 years old.
Throughout his imprisonment, Yorov has faced a series of trials that have been characterized by significant violations of his fair-trial rights. He has been prohibited from effectively communicating with or receiving assistance from legal counsel, and his ability to present a defense has been systematically undermined.
The conditions of Yorov’s imprisonment are alarming, marked by severe mistreatment and torture. His family has reported that visits from his wife have been severely restricted, and they have allegedly faced pressure from the authorities to refrain from advocating for his release. In May 2019, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a statement condemning Tajikistan’s treatment of Yorov, declaring that it constituted a violation of international law and calling for his immediate release. Despite this international outcry, he remains incarcerated.
Yorov’s case is emblematic of a broader human rights crisis in Tajikistan, where the regime of President Emomali Rahmon has systematically eroded the rule of law over the decades. The situation deteriorated significantly following a violent crackdown on protests in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in November 2021, which saw the government eliminate independent media and stifle civil society in the area.
In recent years, the authorities have arrested and persecuted numerous lawyers, civic activists, journalists, and community leaders on politically motivated grounds. The list of victims includes journalists such as Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva and Mamadsulton Mavlonazarov, as well as human rights lawyer Manuchehr Kholiknazarov.
The call to action is clear: Tajikistan’s government must release Buzurgmehr Yorov and all other individuals who have been imprisoned on politically motivated charges. The authorities must respect their obligations under international law to uphold the free and peaceful exercise of human rights for all citizens.
Moreover, the international community has a vital role to play in advocating for justice in Tajikistan. Diplomatic channels must be utilized to amplify Yorov’s case and press for his release, sending a powerful message that human rights abuses will not be tolerated.
As the struggle for justice continues in Tajikistan, the voices calling for change grow louder. The plight of Buzurgmehr Yorov serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for solidarity in the fight against repression and the defense of human rights across the globe.
