DUSHANBE, July 2, 2014, Asia-Plus – The Guardian on July 1 published a statement made by a number of British scholars regarding the detention of Tajik academic researcher Alexander Sodiqov.

“We are gravely concerned about the continuing detention of Alexander Sodiqov in Tajikistan. His arrest demonstrates the deteriorating environment for academic researchers across much of the world. A young researcher working on the academic project on Rising Powers and Conflict Management in Central Asia, he was detained on 16 June and accused of espionage and high treason. He remains in custody despite no evidence being found to justify the ridiculous accusations.

“His research with colleagues at the universities of Exeter and Newcastle explores the politics of conflict management in Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan, since violence there in 2012.  This study was funded by the UK''s Economic and Social Research Council as part of over £4m investment into projects looking at how states such as Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa are changing the world.  Like all research on the ESRC Rising Powers program, the study to which Sodiqov is contributing is independent, is peer-reviewed and confirms to the strictest norms of academic ethics and academic excellence.

“With the visit of Tajikistan foreign minister to the UK this week, we ask the foreign secretary, William Hague, to call for fair treatment for Sodiqov and for his release.  His arrest is unwarranted and an attack on academic freedoms.  It undermines the reputation of the government of Tajikistan in the international community and in the community of international scholars of which Sodiqov is a part.”

Signed by:

Dr Khalid Nadvi University of Manchester, ESRC Rising Powers program coordinator,

Professor Simon Deakin University of Cambridge,

Dr Rilka Dragneyva-Lewers University of Birmingham,

Dr John Heathershaw University of Exeter,

Professor Caroline Humphrey University of Cambridge,

Professor Peter Knorringa Erasmus University, Rotterdam,

Professor James Manor University of London,

Professor Giles Mohan Open University,

Dr Neil Munro University of Glasgow,

Professor Marcus Power University of Durham,

Dr Frauke Urban SOAS, University of London,

Professor Ian Scoones IDS, University of Sussex,

Professor Philip Shapira University of Manchester,

Professor Brian Salter King''s College London,

Professor Rudolf Sinkovics University of Manchester,

Professor Stephen White University of Glasgow,

Dr Kataryna Wolczuk University of Birmingham