Tajik opposition activist Shabnam Hudaydodova has been held in Brest detention center for almost a month.
In Belarus, she asked for political asylum explaining the request by the fact that at home her organization was recognized as extremist.
The 28-year-old activist is a friend of the opposition Group of 24. In recent years, she lived in Russia.
In social networks Shabnam Hudaydodova actively supported critical views of the opposition in Tajikistan and emphasized the need for reform, said Tajik human rights activists.
In October 2014, Tajik authorities labeled the Group of 24 an extremist organization that was regarded by human rights activists as political persecution of the regime opponents.
In January 2015, Shabnam Hudaydodova’s house was searched, her mother and all those with whom she communicated in Tajikistan were questioned.
More than a month ago, the opposition activist learned that there was a plot for her kidnapping. Tajik human rights activists believe such a scenario is quite feasible, since the members of the Group of 24 had been abducted before. On March 5 in Istanbul was shot dead the leader of organization Umarali Kuvatov. According to human rights activists, it was commissioned by the Tajik security services.
Shabnam Hudaydodova was arrested while crossing the Belarusian border on June 15. Tajik authorities are looking for her via Interpol. At home she is accused under the article “Responsibility of Accomplices.”
Relatives hired Shabnam a lawyer, but he was not able to get to his client for ten days. This was reported by the human rights activist from Brest Raman Kislyak.
In turn, the European Union has asked the Belarusian authorities not to extradite the activist home.
