Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice
Tajikistan's Supreme Court sentenced journalist Rukhshona Khakimova to eight years on treason charges; a UN expert said her trial appeared to fall short of international fair-trial standards
Confidence: Corroborated · 2 sourcesTajikistan · Oct 13, 2026
Subject of this story
Supreme Court of Tajikistan
Also named
Oversight
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Affected
Rukhshona Khakimova, Journalist
What happened
Khakimova, an investigative journalist, was sentenced by the Supreme Court of Tajikistan to eight years in prison on treason charges, in a case reported to be linked to a public survey she conducted on China's influence in Tajikistan. On 14 May 2025 the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, called for her release and a fair retrial, saying the trial appeared to fall short of international fair-trial standards. In April 2026 the Committee to Protect Journalists told the UN Human Rights Council, ahead of Tajikistan's November 2026 Universal Periodic Review, that nine journalists have been sentenced to prison terms of up to 20 years since 2022.
Sources (2)
JURISTRukhshona Khakimova’s trial appears to have fallen short of international fair trial standards.
cpj.orgnine journalists have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms of up to 20 years
Response
Supreme Court of Tajikistan
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.