International Rights Groups Demand Immediate Release Of Tajik Political Activist

In a joint statement on September 11, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights Watch, Freedom for Eurasia, and Freedom Now demanded Tajik authorities drop "trumped-up" charges against Nizomiddin Nasriddinov and immediately release the political activist. Belarusian authorities detained Nasriddinov at Dushanbe's request in January when he entered Belarus from Lithuania. They then extradited him to Tajikistan in July. Nasriddinov was charged with calling for extremist actions, which the right groups call unfounded. Nasriddinov has refugee status in Germany. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Tajik Service, click here.