TAJIKISTAN: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER REPORTS ON PRISON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000500

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/3/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ICRC TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER REPORTS ON PRISON
CONDITIONS

CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey A. Jacobson, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy
Dushanbe, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Fayzinisso Vohidova, a lawyer with the Center for
Economic and Legal Support in Khujand, described to PolOff March
29 the horrendous prison conditions, corruption and human rights
abuses she saw when she secretly snuck into prison #23 in
Khujand, Tajikistan's second largest city.


2. (C) Late last year, Vohidova received a letter from inmates
housed in prison number 23 in Khujand desperately appealing for
her help. The prisoners wanted her to advocate on their behalf
to improve prison conditions. Vohidova delivered the letter to
the Sughd region's prosecutor's office, but received no response
and the office failed to act. The prisoners also sent the
letter to local newspapers, which published the letter. After
the letter went public, the Ministry of Justice inspected the
prisons. Unfortunately after the Ministry of Justice's visit,
conditions worsened for the prisoners, according to Vohidova.
As a result, they sent a letter to local newspapers rescinding
the previous letter in hopes that the prison authorities would
alleviate the increased mistreatment.


3. (C) In December 2006, Vohidova bribed prison officials to
allow her onto the prison compound so that she could see for
herself what the conditions were like and speak to the
prisoners. The stories the prisoners' relayed and what she saw
for herself confirmed rumors about the horrendous prison
conditions in Tajikistan.


4. (SBU) The prison houses over 900 male inmates crammed into
three barracks. Some inmates share beds. The blankets are thin
and dirty. The facilities do not have any heat or running
water. Toilet facilities are outside. The inmates are fed dry
onions, pumpkin and salted cabbage three times a day. Local
businessmen provide them these meals as compensation for inmates
who work peeling and cleaning onions for the businesses. The
unlucky ones who do not work receive hot water and bread. The
businesses do not pay wages to the inmates.


5. (C) Medicine is not available within the prison, but
inmates do have access to a separate medical facility, for a
price. Sick inmates, who can afford to pay a hefty bribe (which
according to Embassy sources can be up to $5,000) are
transferred to the medical unit. Even inmates who are not sick
take advantage of this opportunity to escape out of the prison
system. Once they are transferred to the medical unit, many can
further bribe officials to return back to society.
Unfortunately for inmates, even those seriously ill, if they do
not have the money to pay the bribe, they must suffer in the
prison. Vohidova said that she saw prisoners who appeared to be
malnourished, looking thin and sickly. She suggested that many
prisoners most likely suffered from various diseases.
Government officials have publicly admitted that tuberculosis is
high among inmates.


6. (C) Four prisoners also told Vohidova stories of alleged
torture. Vohidova pointed out that most of the prisoners
subjected to torture and abuse are prisoners convicted of being
members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan or
other groups classified as terrorists by the Tajik government.
Having defended some of the convicted alleged terrorists, she
said that most of them actually are not members of terrorist
organizations, but were framed by the government or were in the
wrong place at the wrong time.


7. (C) Authorities routinely beat prisoners with sticks. Some
inmates have been kept in isolation cells with no food. The
four inmates singled out three specific officials responsible
for the torture. Ever since the prisoners publicly spoke out
against the inhumane treatment, prison authorities have begun to
examine phone records to identify which prisoners leaked the
information. Prisoners fear retaliation from authorities.


8. (SBU) Ambassadors from Tajikistan's Principals' Group (a
group of international ambassadors and Heads of Mission) have
requested meetings with senior level government officials to
discuss prison reform and uninhibited access to prisons for

DUSHANBE 00000500 002 OF 002


international organizations such as the International Committee
of the Red Cross as recently as February. However, authorities
have not yet granted a meeting.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: Without international monitors such as the
Red Cross checking prison conditions, it is difficult to
ascertain what is really occurring within prisons, but
Vohidova's account paints a horrifying picture. Reports like
hers from human rights advocates and anecdotes from local
residents are the only sources available. PolOffs' previous
meetings with the head of the prison system General Izzatullo
Sharipov, a notorious former warlord rumored to be both corrupt
and cruel, have not resulted in any increased access. In fact,
Sharipov adamantly refused to allow any discussion of the role
of the Red Cross in Tajikistan. The authorities' refusal to
allow international groups access indicates they have something
to hide and may benefit from the corruption -- rumors borne out
by the sad story from Khujand. END COMMENT.
JACOBSON