DUSHANBE, July 1, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Amnesty International has labeled Tajik PhD student Alexander Sodiqov as ‘prisoner of conscience.’

In a statement released on June 25, the London-based human rights group notes that it believes Alexander Sodiqov is a prisoner of conscience who is detained for exercising his right to freedom of expression, as he was undertaking legitimate academic research which was to lead to publication for public information.

Amnesty International has called for urgent action to free Alexander Sodiqov who was arrested on charges of high treason and spying.

Alexander Sodiqov, 31, Tajik researcher contracted by the University of Exeter to help with a scholarly project, was detained in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) on June 16 on suspicion of spying for an unnamed country after he met with local civil society activist Alim Sherzamonov.

A number of international human rights organizations issued statements expressing concern over Sodiqov''s detention and urging Tajik authorities to provide detailed and timely information about his situation.