Pamiri Political Prisoner Dies in Dushanbe Prison

Kulmamad Pallayev

Reported by independent journalist Anora Sarkorova @anorasarkorova.

A 50-year-old political prisoner and civil activist, Kulmamad Pallayev, has died in a special prison for life-sentenced inmates in Dushanbe.

It is reported that Kulmamad Pallayev passed away during the night of January 12 to 13. According to informed sources, Pallayev had been complaining of severe stomach and abdominal pain in recent weeks. Prison authorities were informed about his deteriorating health, but no action was taken. Instead, Pallayev was advised to “endure it.” The conditions of political prisoners have raised serious concerns.

A few days before his death, Pallayev's condition worsened significantly. Despite this, the leadership of the Tajikistan Ministry of Justice pre-trial detention center ignored all requests for medical assistance.

It is reported that just a few hours before his death, Pallayev experienced severe bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, and sharp stomach pains. Nevertheless, prison authorities refused to provide any assistance to the dying prisoner.

Friends of the political prisoner stated that Pallayev had no prior history of stomach illnesses before his imprisonment.

Kulmamad Pallayev, a resident of Rushan district and a civil activist, participated in a protest in the district center of Vamar in 2022. He was arrested in May 2022 following a military operation conducted by Tajik authorities in the Rushan district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

During the operation, dozens of civilians were killed, and more than 300 were arrested, subjected to torture, and sentenced to long prison terms.

The Tajik authorities accused him of terrorism, premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances, and treason.

It is known that Kulmamad Pallayev was subjected to brutal torture. His family also faced persecution and harassment from Tajik authorities. According to unconfirmed reports, officers of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) tortured Pallayev’s underage son.