Group 24

Group 24 (Russian: Группа 24, romanized: Gruppa 24; Tajik: Гурӯҳи 24, romanized: Guruhi 24) is a political opposition movement in Tajikistan. It opposes the rule of president Emomali Rahmon, who it accuses of corruption and nepotism.

Group 24
Гурӯҳи 24
LeaderSuhrob Zafar
FounderUmarali Quvvatov
Founded2012
Banned2015
HeadquartersIstanbul, Turkey
IdeologyLiberal democracy
Islamic liberalism
Secularism
Anti-fascism
Political positionRadical centrism
National affiliationIslamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan
Congress of Constructive Forces of Tajikistan
Young People for the Revival of Tajikistan
Slogan"Faith, Honor, Freedom, Equality!"
Website
https://guruhi24.net/

Group 24 was founded in 2012 by businessman and politician Umarali Quvvatov, who served as its leader until his assassination in 2015.

History

Establishment

Quvvatov, a businessman who formerly had ties to Rahmon's family, established Group 24 to campaign for democratic reforms in Tajikistan following the Gorno-Badakhshan clashes.[1] The organisation became popular via social media, particularly among the Tajik diaspora.[2][3]

Protests

On 10 October 2014, Quvvatov called for peaceful protests to be held in Dushanbe against the government.[4] The probability for mass protests was estimated as low by analysts who pointed to political apathy and the idea that protest is associated with anarchy, as promoted by the state.[5] On 5 October, authorities had suspended the operation of SMS systems and temporarily blocked at least 300 websites including Facebook, YouTube and Russian-language social networks.[3] They increased law enforcement presence in the capital. No protests ultimately materialized.[5][4]

Members of Group 24 living outside of Tajikistan have subsequently protested state visits of Rahmon to the Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland, and France.[1][6][7]

National ban

Amidst a government crackdown, Group 24 was banned by Tajikistan's Supreme Court on 9 October for alleged extremism; this made membership or association with the organisation a criminal offence.[2][8][3] Former members of the group called for the country's supreme court to remove the party from the list of banned extremist groups, arguing that the group poses no threat, though to date these calls have been unsuccessful.[9][10]

Assassination of Umarali Quvvatov

Quvvatov was assassinated on 6 March 2015 in Turkey after being shot in the head by an unknown assailant. His death came two days after a Tajik court sentenced another member of Group 24 to 17 years in prison for attempting to seize power and insulting the president.[11] President Rahmon's opponents accused authorities of orchestrating the assassination, as did international organisations including Human Rights Watch.[12][2] Following Quvvatov's death, the group elected his cousin, Sharofiddin Gadoev as its new leader.[13][2]

On 26 February 2016, Sulaimon Kayumov was sentenced to life imprisonment in Turkey for the assassination of Quvvatov.[14]

Repression of membership

Some Tajik activists were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their alleged association with Group 24.[15][16] In March 2015 three people received sentences ranging from 16.5 to 17.5 years. In April, 2015, another two people were sent to prison for 3 and 3.5 years for the alleged organising of Group 24 activities.[12]

In July 2023, Belarus extradited Nizomiddin Nasriddinov, a Group 24 activist, to Tajikistan, despite him being granted refugee status in Germany due to concerns he faced persecution and torture in Tajikistan due to his activism.[17] Members of Group 24 have been detained and forcibly repatriated to Tajikistan from countries including Belarus, Russia, and Moldova, among others.[18][17]

References
  1. "В Праге группа оппозиционеров устроила Эмомали Рахмону «тёплый приём»". Fergana (in Russian). 1 December 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  2. "Tajikistan: Severe Crackdown on Political Opposition". Human Rights Watch. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. "Таджикистан: В ожидании акций протеста отключена услуга смс-сообщений; оппозиционная «Группа-24» объявлена экстремистской". Fergana (in Russian). 10 October 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. "SMS Services Down In Tajikistan After Protest Calls". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  5. Vinson, Mark (17 October 2014). "Fears of a Tajik Maidan—A Net Assessment of the Ukraine Crisis' Impact on the Domestic Situation in Tajikistan Since the Start of 2014". Eurasia Daily Monitor. 11 (184) – via Jamestown Foundation.
  6. ""Теплый прием": у стен Кремля прошел протест против Эмомали Рахмона". Current Time TV (in Russian). 17 April 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  7. "В Париже прошла встреча Эммануэля Макрона и Эмомали Рахмона". Radio Ozodi (in Russian). 8 November 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. Tursunzoda, Mehrangez (9 October 2014). "Верховный суд Таджикистана объявил «Группу 24» экстремистской". Asia-Plus (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 November 2018.
  9. "Updated List of Terrorist and Extremist Organizations Banned in the Republic of Tajikistan -".
  10. "Tajikistan Urged To Lift Ban On Opposition Group 24, Leader Suspects Pressure". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  11. "Tajik opposition leader Kuvatov shot dead in Turkey". BBC News. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  12. "Tajik Activists Jailed For Ties To Banned Opposition Group". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  13. "Tajik Opposition Group 24 News Leaders After Quvatov's Assassination". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  14. "В Стамбуле к пожизненному заключению приговорен организатор убийства таджикского оппозиционера Умарали Кувватова". Fergana (in Russian). 26 February 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  15. "Three Arrests As Tajik Oppositionist Buried". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  16. "Tajik Opposition Leader Killed". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  17. "Tajikistan: Extradited Activist at Risk". Human Rights Watch. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  18. "В Молдове продлен арест таджикского оппозиционера Собира Валиева". Fergana (in Russian). 27 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
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