Vienna
Freedom for Eurasia recieved information that a court hearing in the case of Karakalpak political prisoner, lawyer, and journalist Dauletmurat Tajimuratov is scheduled to take place on 10 April. According to available information, new charges have been brought against him, alleging the assault of a prison officer.
Particular concern arises from the fact that Tajimuratov’s family was not duly or timely notified of the upcoming hearing and only learned about it at the last moment. Such practice constitutes a clear violation of fundamental fair trial guarantees, including the right to timely notification and adequate preparation of the defense.
According to the information received, Tajimuratov faces up to 10 additional years of imprisonment under these new charges, on top of his current sentence.
Importantly, these assault charges come amidst credible reports of torture, ill-treatment, and ongoing harassment of Tajimuratov in prison, which raises serious concerns about the circumstances under which the allegations have been formulated and whether they may be linked to coercion or abuse within the penitentiary system.
In light of the numerous reports of political motivation, fabrication of charges, and procedural violations in the previous trial, the newly brought accusations raise serious doubts as to their credibility and appear to constitute a continuation of pressure against Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, aimed at further punitive measures.
Freedom for Eurasia emphasizes that any new charges brought against individuals already in detention must be subject to heightened scrutiny, transparency, and full compliance with international human rights standards. Otherwise, such charges risk being used as instruments of repression.
In this regard, Freedom for Eurasia calls on the authorities of Uzbekistan to immediately drop all charges—both existing and newly brought—against Dauletmurat Tajimuratov and ensure his prompt release.
Freedom for Eurasia also calls on the international community, including relevant UN mechanisms and diplomatic missions, to closely monitor this case.