On June 4, a court in Lithuania released a Tajik opposition activist who was facing extradition to the Central Asian country.
Sulaimon Davlatov was arrested in early April on an unspecified charge related to an alleged violation of Lithuania’s national security, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on Wednesday.
Davlatov, who has lived in Lithuania for nine years, is known for his online criticism of the Tajik authorities.
In April, Lithuania’s General Prosecutor said Davlatov had alleged connections “to members and supporters of terrorist organisations”, which he later denied.
In several written and video messages, the Tajik activist said his work was “aimed at supporting justice, democracy, equality, and tolerance in Tajikistan”, which involved “taking an open and active position against the autocratic regime of Emomali Rahmon”.
Sharfuddin Gadoev, one of the leaders of the Tajik opposition and head of the Tajik Reform and Development Movement, previously told LRT.lt that Davlatov was granted political asylum in Lithuania in 2016.
According to Gadoev, the court decided to detain Davlatov based on the conclusions of Lithuania’s intelligence service that he was a threat to national security.
“He is being persecuted for political reasons. He faces torture and death in Tajikistan. He cannot defend his rights under such conditions. According to international law, and Lithuania is committed to it, they have no right to send a person back to his homeland,” Gadoev said.
In May, Davlatov also asked Vilnius to restore his asylum status and prevent him from being deported to Tajikistan.
In 2015, the former member of Group 24 and the Congress of Constructive Forces opposition movements was also detained in Finland at the request of the Tajik authorities, but later released.
With reporting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, partners of LRT English.
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