Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE1608
2006-08-28 07:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIK GOVERNMENT SETS LOOSE THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS
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UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001608
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVERNMENT SETS LOOSE THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001608
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVERNMENT SETS LOOSE THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS
1. (U) Tajikistan's parliament adopted an amnesty law August
17 that would free 4,000 prisoners and reduce the terms of
11,000. All women above the age of 55, children under the age
of 18, first time offenders, along with other designated groups
will be eligible for amnesty. Families will be given the
opportunity to petition to free imprisoned relatives and the
penitentiary system will nominate a list of names for
consideration to President Rahmonov's office.
2. (U) Previous amnesty laws aimed to contribute to the peace
process after the Tajik civil war when the government granted
amnesty to many opposition fighters. In 2001, another amnesty
law was passed which freed 20,000 prisoners. This year's
amnesty law was passed out of the goodness of the
parliamentarians' hearts in order to celebrate the 15th
anniversary of Tajikistan's independence. Coincidentally, it
also comes right before the November presidential election.
During past amnesties, some political parties have petitioned
for the release of member they consider imprisoned for political
reasons, but the government denied their requests.
3. (SBU) Embassy sources tell PolOff that despite the amnesty,
prison officials keep a tight leash on the penitentiary system
ahead of the November presidential election. One international
mission that had frequent access to prisons in order to
implement assistance programs, has been experiencing resistance
from Ministry of Justice.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is doubtful any prisoners affiliated
with opposition political parties will be released. This
gesture of goodwill from the government also will not hurt
President Rahmonov's popularity right before the election,
although he has no declared competition and will win the popular
vote. END COMMENT.
HUSHEK
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVERNMENT SETS LOOSE THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS
1. (U) Tajikistan's parliament adopted an amnesty law August
17 that would free 4,000 prisoners and reduce the terms of
11,000. All women above the age of 55, children under the age
of 18, first time offenders, along with other designated groups
will be eligible for amnesty. Families will be given the
opportunity to petition to free imprisoned relatives and the
penitentiary system will nominate a list of names for
consideration to President Rahmonov's office.
2. (U) Previous amnesty laws aimed to contribute to the peace
process after the Tajik civil war when the government granted
amnesty to many opposition fighters. In 2001, another amnesty
law was passed which freed 20,000 prisoners. This year's
amnesty law was passed out of the goodness of the
parliamentarians' hearts in order to celebrate the 15th
anniversary of Tajikistan's independence. Coincidentally, it
also comes right before the November presidential election.
During past amnesties, some political parties have petitioned
for the release of member they consider imprisoned for political
reasons, but the government denied their requests.
3. (SBU) Embassy sources tell PolOff that despite the amnesty,
prison officials keep a tight leash on the penitentiary system
ahead of the November presidential election. One international
mission that had frequent access to prisons in order to
implement assistance programs, has been experiencing resistance
from Ministry of Justice.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is doubtful any prisoners affiliated
with opposition political parties will be released. This
gesture of goodwill from the government also will not hurt
President Rahmonov's popularity right before the election,
although he has no declared competition and will win the popular
vote. END COMMENT.
HUSHEK