Recent correspondence from the family of imprisoned human rights defender Dauletmurat Tajimuratov raises serious concerns about his deteriorating health and the conditions of his confinement.
In a message received today, the Tajimuratov family reports that their mother recently visited Dauletmurat Tajimuratov. While his overall condition remains relatively stable, his eyesight has significantly worsened. Previously, Tajimuratov worked in a lime production workshop, but he has now been transferred to another facility section with even more hazardous working conditions. According to the family, the air is filled with fine dust particles, creating an environment harmful to respiratory system and eyesight. Prisoners are reportedly forced to create makeshift masks from ordinary fabric, as the standard-issue masks provide no real protection against the pervasive dust.
The family also reports that Tajimuratov’s feet are covered in cracks, a likely result of continuous exposure to harsh work environments, lack of proper work footwear and inadequate medical attention. They emphasize the urgent need to transfer Dauletmurat Tajimuratov to another job or, preferably, to a different colony, as the current conditions pose a serious risk to his health and well-being.
Furthermore, it was noted that during the recent visit, officials did not allow Dauletmurat Tajimuratov to keep food left-overs from his meeting with his mother, an unnecessary and punitive restriction inconsistent with basic humanitarian standards.
Despite these detailed accounts, the Uzbek government continues to claim that Dauletmurat Tajimuratov’s health and prison conditions are satisfactory. However, receiving such messages from his immediate family directly contradicts these official assurances and indicates a concerning lack of transparency in the government’s reporting on his condition.
Even if the authorities remain unwilling to release Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, it is imperative that he be transferred to the colony designated for former government employees and civil servants, in accordance with Article 58 of the Penal Enforcement Code, “Separate detention of convicts in penal institutions for former court employees and law enforcement officers” to stop the mistreatment he is systemically subjected to. Dauletmurat Tajimuratov should not be in prison to begin with, but since he is imprisoned he should be placed in a special colony because he held the following positions:
– 1998-2000: Adaptation Center for Those Who Have Served Their Sentences in Karauzyak District of the Republic of Karakalpakstan
– 2000-2001: Senior Inspector of Constitutional Supervision of the Republic of Karakalpakstan
– 2007-2008: Lawyer of the Committee of Nature Protection
Based on the above and considering that all previous convictions of Dauletmurat Tajimuratov have been expunged, he must be transferred to colony for former state officers KIN 22. Previously, Tajimuratov’s lawyer submitted a request to the court and the Department of Penal Enforcement for the transfer; however, all responses were rejected. Placement in this facility would not only align with Uzbekistan’s own correctional norms but also mitigate the ongoing harm to his health, ensuring more humane conditions and access to basic medical care.
Continued denial of appropriate treatment and safe conditions for Dauletmurat Tajimuratov amounts to a violation of Uzbekistan’s obligations under both domestic law and international human rights standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules).
We urge the Uzbek authorities, at the very least, to transfer Dauletmurat Tajimuratov immediately to a safer, more appropriate facility where his health and dignity can be preserved.