EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: EUR 60/12/93

Distr: UA/SC

UA 280/93"Disappearance"19 August 1993

TADZHIKISTAN:Saidsho SHOYEV

Siyarsho SHOYEV

(in cyrillicСаидшо ШОЕВ

Сияршо ШОЕВ)

Saidsho Shoyev, a member of the Tadzhikistan Supreme Council (parliament), and his brother Siyarsho Shoyev "disappeared" after being detained by armed men in the centre of Dushanbe, the capital, on 29 July 1993. Amnesty International is concerned that forces operating with the approval of the government may have been responsible. It is calling on the Government of Tadzhikistan to take immediate steps to locate Saidsho and Siyarsho Shoyev and to release them if they are not to be charged with a criminal offence, and to conduct a full and impartial investigation into their "disappearance" and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Saidsho and Siyarsho Shoyev come originally from the Garm region of central Tadzhikistan, an area identified with the opposition to the current government. They went into exile in Moscow in January 1993, at a time when Garmis in Dushanbe and elsewhere were being targeted for summary execution and "disappearance" by armed gangs believed to have been operating with the endorsement or tacit approval of the government. In June Saidsho Shoyev and seven other Garmi members of parliament in exile received an appeal from the Prime Minister of Tadzhikistan, Abdumalik Abdullodzhanov, to attend a forthcoming session of parliament. The Prime Minister personally undertook to guarantee their safety. Saidsho Shoyev accepted this invitation with two others, and travelled to Dushanbe accompanied by his brother.

On the afternoon of 29 July Saidsho and Siyarsho Shoyev were seized from a street in the centre of Dushanbe by armed men and were bundled into a car and driven away. Sources report that from its number plates the car was identifiable as belonging to the Ministry of Defence. There has been no concrete information about the Shoyev brothers' whereabouts since then. The government denies any involvement in their "disappearance".

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Tadzhikistan's civil war has claimed thousands of lives and has been characterized by appalling human rights abuses on all sides. Hundreds of people are reported to have "disappeared". Reports of "disappearance" following arrest by pro-government paramilitary groups were particularly numerous in Dushanbe in the weeks which followed the city's seizure by government forces in December 1992. The government acknowledges that armed groups have engaged in such activities, but denies that they are operating on government orders or with government complicity.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in Russian, English or in your own language:

- calling on authorities in Tadzhikistan to take immediate and effective steps to locate Saidsho and Siyarsho Shoyev, and, if they are in custody, to release them immediately if they are not to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence before an independent court of law;

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- urging the authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation into their "disappearance", the findings of which should be made public, and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice according to the norms of international law.

APPEALS TO

1) Chairman of the Supreme Council, Imamali Rakhmonov:

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

Verkhovny sovet Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Predsedatelyu Rakhmonovu I.

Telegrams: Tadzhikistan, Dushanbe, Predsedatelyu VS Rakhmonovu I.

Faxes: + 7 3772 22 69 71

Salutation: Dear Chairman

2) Procurator General, Mamadnazar Salikhov:

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

prospekt Pravdy, 4

Prokuratura Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Generalnomu prokuroru Salikhovu M.

Telegrams: Tadzhikistan, Dushanbe, pr. Pravdy 4, Gen. Prokuroru Salikhovu M.

Salutation: Dear Procurator General

3) Minister of Internal Affairs, Yakub Salimov:

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

MVD Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Ministru Salimovu Ya.

Telegrams: Tadzhikistan, Dushanbe, MVD, Ministru Salimovu Ya.

Salutation: Dear Minister

4) Chairman of the National Security Committee, Saydamir Zukhurov:

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

KNB Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Predsedatelyu Zukhurovu S.

Telegrams: Tadzhikistan, Dushanbe, KNB, Predsedatelyu Zukhurovu S.

Salutation: Dear Chairman

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

1) Prime Minister, Abdumalik Abdullodzhanov:

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

Kabinet Ministrov

Premyer-ministru Abdullodzhanovu A.

2) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Olimov:

Respublika Tadzhikistan

g. Dushanbe

MID Respubliki Tadzhikistan

Ministru Olimovu R.

Faxes: + 7 3772 23 29 64

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 30 September 1993.