As delivered by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer to the Permanent Council
Vienna, July 17, 2014
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
The United States expresses its deep concern about the ongoing detention of Alexander Sodiqov by the authorities of Tajikistan. Mr. Sodiqov, who is a PhD student at the University of Toronto conducting research in affiliation with the University of Exeter, travelled to Tajikistan last month to conduct academic research. He was detained by Tajikistan security services in Khoroq, in the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast, on June 16. We are closely monitoring the developments in this case, and intend to raise our concerns in more detail at next week’s Permanent Council meeting. We would welcome any updates from the Government of Tajikistan on Mr. Sodiqov’s case.
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
