Dodojon Atovulloev. Photo from Tajinfo.org
The Tajik opposition journalist Dodojon Atovulloev, currently residing in Germany, has been granted an amnesty by the Tajik government and will be allowed to return home, the news site Tojikiston reports (in Tajik), citing sources in the office of the country’s Prosecutor General.
The Prosecutor General’s Office stated that between 2008 and 2014 Atovulloev committed a number of crimes and an international warrant was issued for his arrest. Following the passing of a law “On Amnesty” in October of this year, a decision was made on 16 December to drop the criminal case against the journalist.
On his Facebook page, Atovulloev himself wrote that he had heard the news from a colleague and saw it as a positive sign. He said he had always dreamed of returning home and now fully intended to do so, subject to discussing the issue with his associates. “The time has come for the opposition and the government to work together for the development of Tajikistan, for the wellbeing of its people and for freedom – not to build walls but to build bridges,” said Atovulloev.
Dodojon Atovulloev was the editor of the first independent opposition newspaper in Tajikistan “Charogi Ruz” (The Daily Lantern), which began publication in 1991. He was forced to leave Tajikistan in 1992, fleeing the persecution of the authorities who accused him of attempting to overturn the constitutional order and brought criminal proceedings against him (after a few years the case was dropped).
Until recently, Atovulloev has been one of the Rahmon regime’s most active critics. Living in exile, in 2007 the journalist became leader of the oppositional movement Vatandor, which aimed to unite opponents of the government and carry out the “peaceful overthrow” of the current regime. In 2008 the Prosecutor General’s Office brought new criminal charges against Atovulloev, accusing him of publicly calling for the violent reversal of the constitutional order and of insulting the president.
For many years, the Tajik government sought the arrest and extradition of Atovulloev from Germany and Russia, where he was living. In Russia he was arrested at least twice but later released and his rendition to Tajik authorities refused. In 2012 he was the object of an assassination attempt in Moscow – an unknown assailant stabbed him with a knife but, miraculously, he survived the attack. Dodojon Atovulloev currently leads the opposition movement Congress of Constructive Forces of Tajikistan.
