DUSHANBE, September 19, Asia-Plus — A group prisoners, serving their sentences in penal colonies in Tajikistan, have appealed to President Emomali Rahmon, international and human rights organizations, asking for amnesty.     

Qahramon Sanginov, head of the Training Center at Tajikistan’s Bureau on Human Rights and the Rule of Law, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the letter had been coauthored by former supporters of the pro-government Popular Front and the United Tajik Opposition (UTO), combatants in Tajikistan’s 1992-1997 civil war.  

According to him, they ask the president and the legislative authority to adopt an amnesty law that would include release of them or at least reduction in their prison terms. 

They have also appealed to international and human rights organizations asking for assistance with adoption of this amnesty law.  

“The letter also notes that during the preliminary investigation and in the penal colony they have been put to the torture and other inhuman treatment and as a result of this many of them have become disabled for life,” Sanginov said.