Tajikistan: 22-Year-Old Alisher Makhsudov Appeals 14-Year Sentence in Extremism Case

Alisher Makhsudov

Alisher Makhsudov, a 22-year-old citizen of Tajikistan, has appealed a 14-year prison sentence handed down by the Ismoili Somoni District Court of Dushanbe on charges of extremism and mercenarism. His relatives claim the accusations are baseless.

Since the age of 18, Makhsudov had been a labor migrant in Russia, working at the “Sadovod” market. He later attempted to seek asylum in Europe but, after being denied, traveled to Uzbekistan. According to his family members, officials from the Tajik Ministry of Internal Affairs promised that he would be pardoned if he returned voluntarily. However, upon his arrival in Dushanbe, he was arrested and charged with links to Salafists and participation in combat operations in Syria—allegations his relatives insist are untrue.

Makhsudov's family states that several of his former roommates were detained and extradited to Tajikistan, and it was they who mentioned his name. The investigation continued, and additional charges were added to the case. His family maintains that no defense witnesses were called to testify during the trial, which was held behind closed doors.

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed concern over the lack of transparency in trials related to extremism in Tajikistan.