Atuvulloev, Dodojon
Who, Why and How exiled: Former publisher of Charogi Ruz (“Day Light”), an independent newspaper that he founded in 1991. Well-known for his critical views on the Tajik authorities. Forced to leave Tajikistan in 2001 after being accused of insulting the president and receiving a series of death threats. Shares his time between Moscow and Hamburg, the former being the location of Charogi Ruz's headquarters. (Reporters Without Borders, 2006)
Stage 1 details (accusations/ charges/ Interpol notice/ extradition requests): Accused of inciting violence and slandering the president. Faces charges of religious extremism and terrorism. On the Interpol Red Notice List (Savchenko, , 2015). An extradition request from Tajikistan was rejected by Russia in 2011 (Reporters Without Borders, 2012).
Stage 2 details (arrest/ detention/ extradition): Detained in Moscow in July 2001 whilst travelling to visit family in Uzbekistan. He was released after numerous human rights organisations intervened to prevent his extradition. He sought asylum in Germany later that year. (Reporters Without Borders, 2006) Due to his Interpol Red Notice, he was denied entry to Russia and Georgia in 2013 (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 2013a; Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 2013b).
Stage 3 details (attack/ abduction/ rendition/ torture/ assassination/ death): Stabbed by two unidentified assailants on a visit to Moscow in 2012, but survived the attack (Reporters Without Borders, 2012).
Other actions during Stages 1–3 (dispossession/ overseas assets frozen/ intimidation/ action against associates/ …): Several members of his family were arrested in Tajikistan after he fled the country in 2001 (Reporters Without Borders, 2006).
Legal status (refugee/ asylum seeker/ resident): Holds political refugee status in Germany (since 2002) (Reporters Without Borders, 2006).
Current status: Living as a political refugee in Germany. On the 25th of January 2018, he briefly returned to Tajikistan after years of exile and has met with President Emomali Rahmon. It is speculated that Atovulloyev’s visit to Tajikistan was part of a broader project by the government to improve its international democratic credential (Eurasianet, 2018).
Press sources: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, "Russia Denies Entry To Tajik Opposition Journalist," July 15, 2013a, [Online]. Available at: http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan-journalist-russia-entry/25047058.html; Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, "Georgia Urged To Free Tajik Journalist," August 20, 2013b.[Online]. Available at: http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan--journalist-atovulloev-held-tbilisi/25080471.html; Reporters Without Borders, "Interior minister urged to protect threatened Tajik journalist," June 21, 2006. [Online]. Available at: http://rsf.org/en/news/interior-minister-urged-protect-threatened-tajik-journalist; Reporters Without Borders, "Tajik opposition journalist stabbed in Moscow," January 13, 2012.[Online]. Available at: https://rsf.org/en/news/tajik-opposition-journalist-stabbed-moscow; Igor Savchenko, "The Report: The Interpol system is in need of reform," Open Dialogue Foundation, February 24, 2015.[Online]. Available at http://en.odfoundation.eu/a/5947,the-report-the-interpol-system-is-in-need-of-reform Eurasianet, (2018). Tajikistan: Exiled Opposition Politician Returns Home. Dodojon Atovulloyev left Tajikistan 16 years ago and later received asylum status and then citizenship in Germany. 25 Jan. 2018. [Online]. Available at: https://eurasianet.org/s/tajikistan-exiled-opposition-politician-returns-home