NCRPH statement on the poisoning of prisoners

The National Committee for the Release of Political Hostages and Prisoners of Tajikistan (NCRPH) expressing its deep concern about the situation in the new prison in the city of Vahdat, where about 40 prisoners have been poisoned and are in critical condition, urges all relevant domestic and foreign organizations to intervene in this issue and urge the Government of Tajikistan to provide emergency medical assistance to sick prisoners and relieve them of this alarming situation.

Relying on its own resources reports Azda TV, that last week about 40 prisoners in correctional detention 3/1 of the Main Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sentences of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan, recently built on the Dushanbe-Vahdat road, were poisoned and are heavily sick. Some of them are currently being held in the sanitary section, some in its corridors and some in their own prison-beds.

According to Azda TV sources, the prisoners’ poisoning source was the detention’s underground water tank, which was contaminated as a result of inadequate protection.

The National Committee for the Release of Political Hostages and Prisoners of Tajikistan (NCRPH), expressing its deep concern, urges:

1 — that the Ombudsman of the country, together with representatives of civil society, immediately visit the prison to get acquainted with the situation of the victims and to clarify the situation;

2 — so that the representatives of the International organization “Amnesty International” visit sick prisoners to learn more about their condition and take steps to improve their condition;

3 — the United Nations Human Rights Committee and Reporters Without Borders should send their representatives to the prison to monitor prison conditions and provide a detailed report on the situation;

4 – the Tajik authorities need to find the real culprits and perpetrators of this tragedy, so that they incur criminal punishment and inform the public about these actions.

The National Committee for the Release of Political Hostages and Prisoners of Tajikistan (NCRPH)

Warsaw, Poland

29.10.2021