Khurshed Fozilov

Affiliated media: Independent journalist

Incident date: May 26, 2023

Attack type:

• Court trial

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Asia Plus

Location: Tajikistan, Khujand

Additional information:

The Panjakent City Court sentenced Tajik journalist Khurshed Fozilov to seven years in prison. His trial took place on May 26 in a temporary detention center in Khujand in closed session and without the presence of his relatives. Fozilov, who wrote news, reports, and articles for the country’s media from the Zarafshon region, was detained on March 6 this year by security authorities in Panjakent and later taken to Khujand’s temporary detention center. On May 10, the investigation into Fozilov’s case was completed and sent to the Panjakent City Court. Authorities accuse him of collaborating with parties and movements banned in Tajikistan. However, he, through his defence counsel, stated that he had been forced to testify against himself and that he had never collaborated with banned organisations.