Not a single acquittal has been handed down by a court in Tajikistan in the past two years.

The stark statistic is highlighted by a report published this week by Tajik daily Asia-Plus.

Rustam Mirzozoda, chairman of the republic’s Supreme Court, reportedly said at a mid-February press conference that the lack of acquittals stemmed from law enforcement agencies' compliance with the law and the actions they pursue within their jurisdiction.

"Each case is examined in accordance with the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Code, and they [law enforcement agencies] strive to avoid errors within their jurisdiction. The courts examine the case and see that the people's actions were, in fact, criminal, and therefore no acquittals are rendered," Mirzozoda was cited as saying.

Shermuhammad Shohiyon, a former chairman of the Supreme Court, said in February 2024 that the country's courts acquitted three people in 2023. Official statistics show two acquitted in 2020 and 11 in 2021. 

Tajikistan’s ruling regime is widely regarded as extremely harsh when it comes to human rights. The Rahmon administration also sets out to ensure that no effective opposition to its rule can emerge in the Central Asian country of towards 11mn.

The complete lack of acquittals in the past two years calls into question the objectivity delivered in criminal cases, Tajik lawyer Navruz Odinaev was reported as commenting by Asia-Plus.

"The experience of developed countries shows that the acquittal rate can be significant. For example, in Canada, it's up to 30%," he was quoted as saying, adding: "This is explained not only by investigative errors but also by the need for strict adherence to procedural rules."

Acquittals not only protect the innocent, they encourage investigative bodies to show more thoroughness in collecting evidence and complying with the law, Odinaev added.

"The lack of acquittals should be the subject of serious analysis, as it affects the fundamental principles of justice – fairness, judicial independence, and the presumption of innocence," Odinaev concluded.

The extreme rarity of acquittals in Tajikistan is a worrying sign, Dilrabo Samadova, a lawyer and founder of the Office of Civil Liberties, told the Tajik daily.

"The court isn't just an agency; it's an entire branch of government. That's why it's called the third branch, and it must be completely independent," she said.

"Even though investigative bodies conduct the investigation and submit the case to court with ready-made charges and evidence, the court is obligated to conduct its own investigation and make a fair decision. If the court doesn't investigate the case, but simply approves the criminal cases filed by investigative bodies, then what purpose does such a branch of government serve?" added Samadova.