The savings of independent journalist Rukhshona Hakimova, currently serving an eight-year prison sentence in women’s penal colony in Nurek, have been confiscated by the state, according to a statement by the country’s Supreme Court.

In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Shavkat Lutfullozoda, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court, confirmed on August 7 that funds held in Hakimova’s bank accounts were seized as part of the broader “coup attempt” case.  

He did not disclose the exact amount of the confiscated assets.

Referring to other defendants involved in the “coup attempt” case, Lutfullozoda added, “Only a portion of the seized property of the convicted individuals has been confiscated. The rest was returned to their families.”

Earlier, Rukhshona Hakimova’s family told Asia-Plus that nearly 230,000 somonis — funds she had saved to buy an apartment — were taken from her bank account by authorities.

Rukhshona Hakimova is one of nine people convicted in the so-called coup plot case, which includes prominent political and public figures, as well as retired security officers.

As it had been reported earlier, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced Rukhshona Hakimova, who has worked for a variety of media outlets, to eight years in prison on February 5.  The sentence followed her conviction on charges of aiding in the crime of treason using official position (Article 305, Part 2).

The charge of treason against Hakimova stems from a public survey she conducted on China's influence on Tajikistan as part of her work as a reporter last year.  Hakimova’s case may be linked to her survey on “China’s Influence on Tajikistan", which was previously answered by several individuals convicted in the "coup plot" case, including Saidjafar Usmonzoda, former head of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan, sentenced to 27 years in prison, and Shokirjon Hakimov, lawyer and the Frist Deputy Chairman of the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT), sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Rukhshona Hakimova is an independent journalist and mother of two small children.  Rukhshona Hakimova is the niece of Shokirjon Hakimov. 

Hundreds of social media users voiced support for Hakimova, calling for her release and citing her role as a mother of two young children — one of whom was an infant at the time of her arrest.

Numerous international organizations, civil society groups, and press freedom advocates also urged Tajik authorities to reconsider or reduce her sentence, but officials have not responded to those appeals.

Hakimova is one of nine people convicted in the so-called coup plot case, which includes prominent political and public figures, as well as retired security officers.