Day: September 7, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, will meet next week during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Uzbekistan.

Russian state media quoted officials as saying the summit will take place during the SCO meeting in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on September 15-16.

"We are actively preparing for it,” Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov told reporters, according to the TASS news agency.

The two leaders last met in February, just before Moscow launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

China has tried to walk a line between criticizing Russia for the war and avoiding breaking international sanctions imposed on Moscow for its aggression.

Beijing has blamed the United States and NATO for provoking Moscow and has condemned the punishing sanctions imposed on Russia. In turn, the Kremlin has backed China amid rising tensions with Washington that were exacerbated by a recent visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In addition, Chinese forces have been participating this month in the Vostok-2022 military exercises in Russia.

One day before landing in Uzbekistan, Xi will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan in his first trip abroad since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said earlier this week that the Chinese leader will hold talks with his Kazakh counterpart Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev in Nur-Sultan on September 14.

The SCO summit in Uzbekistan will include China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.

Iran has the status of an acceding member -- it's expected to officially join the group in April 2023 -- while Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia are observer states.

Copyright (c) 2015. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

DUSHANBE -- A Tajik blogger from the country's restive Gorno-Badakhshan region has reportedly been arrested in Moscow and may be extradited to Tajikistan, where his colleagues say he faces illegal incarceration and arbitrary prosecution.

Two colleagues of Komyor Mirzoev told RFE/RL that the blogger was detained in Moscow on September 6 along with several other Tajik men. There is no information about their current whereabouts.

Mirzoev's blogs have been critical of the Central Asian state's government.

Last week, relatives of another Badakhshan native, Mamadbek Atobekov, say he was detained in Moscow. His current whereabouts are also unknown, while his relatives say they fear that he might be extradited to Tajikistan.

Two weeks earlier, another Tajik blogger from the restive region, Maqsud Ghayosov, was arrested in Moscow and has been held incommunicado since.

The Pamir Daily News website, which monitors developments in Gorno-Badakhshan, says at least 20 of the region's natives have been detained in Moscow and forcibly brought to Tajikistan in the last six months.

Relatives and rights defenders say that the arrests in Moscow are most likely linked to mass protests in the region that were violently dispersed by the authorities in May.

Deep tensions between the Tajik government and residents of the volatile region have simmered since a five-year civil war broke out shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Protests are rare in tightly controlled Tajikistan, where President Emomali Rahmon has ruled with an iron fist for nearly three decades.

The latest crackdown on activists in Gorno-Badakhshan followed protests initially sparked by anger over the lack of an investigation into the 2021 death of an activist while in police custody and the refusal by regional authorities to consider the resignation of regional Governor Alisher Mirzonabot and Khorugh Mayor Rizo Nazarzoda.

The rallies intensified after one of the protesters, 29-year-old Zamir Nazrishoev, was killed by police on May 16, prompting the authorities to launch what they called a "counterterrorist operation."

The escalating violence in the region has sparked a call for restraint from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Western diplomatic missions in Tajikistan, and human rights groups.

Also, on September 7, a 72-year-old former Tajik security officer, Mamadsulton Mavlonazarov, went on trial on charges of calling publicly for the forcible change of the country's constitutional order and insulting an official on the Internet or media.

It is not clear what the charges stem from. Mavlonazarov's Facebook posts have been critical of the State Committee for National Security.

Copyright (c) 2015. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Yesterday, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Muzaffar Huseinzoda received a copies of Credentials from the newly appointed Head of European Union Delegation to Tajikistan Raimundas Karoblis.

The parties exchanged views on bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the EU in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as expanding the regional cooperation.

Deputy FM congratulated the Head of EU Delegation on his appointment and wished success in his diplomatic activity in Tajikistan.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Yesterday, the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Egypt Zarobiddin Kosimi met with the President of the Senate of Egypt Abdul Wahab Abdul Raziq.

The meeting focused on issues of expanding multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, in particular, the establishment and development of mutually beneficial inter-parliamentary ties.

Great interest was shown in the revitalizing the work of the inter-parliamentary friendship group, the exchange of visits and the study of the experience and professional skills of both sides.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin attended the first meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Arab countries of the Gulf and Central Asia in Riyadh and delivered a speech.

A Joint Statement and a Roadmap of Joint Cooperation for 2023-2027 were adopted following the meeting.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Today, the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon sent a congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Liz Truss.

The message reads, in part:

«Her Majesty,

I sincerely congratulate you on your election as Leader of the Conservative Party and assuming the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

At the beginning of this year, our countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

During this period, we attach great importance to the strengthening of friendly relations and cooperation with your country, and are always shared to their further development in all areas of mutual interest.

We are confident that during your tenure in office, the relations of mutually beneficial cooperation between the parties will enter a new stage of their expansion, enriched with new content.

The Tajik side is ready to make joint efforts at various levels for effective promotion of this process.

I wish you, Her Majesty, good health, happiness and new achievements in your future activities, while well-being and sustainable prosperity to the friendly people of the United Kingdom.

I take this opportunity to renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration”.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

The fleet of the Somon Air was replenished with a new Boeing 737-800 aircraft named after the Hero of Tajikistan Mirzo Tursunzoda from the Aviation Capital Group (ACG).

Its solemn presentation took place today at Dushanbe International Airport.

According to Acting General Director of the airline Abdulkosim Valiev, the Boeing 737-800 aircraft contributes to the expansion of the geography of flights, an increase in the number of flights on existing routes and the launch of new routes, as well as an improvement in the level and quality of services.

“Somon Air plans to operate flights to Urumqi in China, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and Tehran in Iran until the end of the year,” he said.

Valiev expressed his gratitude to ACG for trust and cooperation and noted that partnerships would be strengthened in the future.

Since 2008, Somon Air has successfully operated in the international market, as a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and prioritises flight safety.

The Somon Air fleet consists of Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 aircrafts, which operate regularly from Tajikistan to Germany, the UAE, Turkiye, India, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Currently, Somon Air is working on resuming flights to China and on opening regular flights to Saudi Arabia. The company is focused on expanding the route network of air transportation and the fleet.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

On September 7, 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Riyadh.

During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on the development of bilateral cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

Source: Ministry of foreign affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan