Gadoev, Sharofiddin
He is known for highly personalised monologues, launched on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccKJuquAoJ8
Who, Why and How exiled: Cousin of Umarali Kuvatov, founder of Group of 24. Fled to Spain in November 2013 after charges were brought against him (Atayeva, 2014). Succeeded Kuvatov as leader of Group of 24 in meeting on 12 March 2015, shortly after Kuvatov was killed (Radio Free Europe, 2015;Радио озоди ).
Stage 1 details (accusations/ charges/ Interpol notice/ extradition requests): Tajik law enforcement agencies declared him wanted for foregery and smuggling charges (Atayeva, 2014).
Stage 2 details (arrest/ detention/ extradition): Arrested on 2 February 2014 in Madrid by Spanish police following examination of his documents. Tajik authorities requested his extradition. (Atayeva, 2014).
Stage 3 details (attack/ abduction/ rendition/ torture/ assassination/ death): Gadoev traveled to Russia for meetings with officials from the Russian government’s Security Council regarding political developments in Tajikistan. On February 14 2019 while on the way to a meeting he was forced into a car by Russian security services officers, driven to Domodedovo Airport and flown to Dushanbe. On the flight, Gadoev was accompanied by officers from the Tajik security services, who beat him and placed a sack over his head. Gadoev was delivered in that condition straight to Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry’s agency for the fight against organized crime early on the morning of February 15. Since that day he has been in arrest, since Feb 20 it is not known where he is being held. He has been charged with possession of contraband under article 289(1) of Tajikistan’s criminal code and forgery under article 340. (H.R.W., 2019) The Tajik officials tried to stage his return as voluntary by publishing videos with such statements made by him. However, before leaving his host country the Netherlands he recorded a different video in which he states that "If I suddenly turn up on state television or on YouTube declaring that I am in Tajikistan and that I have returned of my own free will, you must not believe this. I would under no circumstance ever return to Tajikistan of my own free will." (H.R.W., 2019)
Other actions during Stages 1–3 (dispossession/ overseas assets frozen/ intimidation/ action against associates/ …): Days after the announcement by Kuvatov of the 10 October 2014 protests Tajik police detained Gadoev's parents, sister and brother-in-law. Under the alleged threat of violence against his family, Gadoev was forced to transfer a profitable business to the family of President Rahmon. (Atayeva, 2014). On the 11th of October, 2014 a video appeared with Godaev's family members asking him to give up his political activities against the regime of Rahmon (Радио Озоди,2014)
Legal status (refugee/ asylum seeker/ resident): Living in Spain under rules regarding people seeking international protection (Atayeva, 2014). Refugee status in the Netherlands (H.R.W., 2019)
Current status: Exiled in Spain ( Atayeva, 2014) Refugee status in the Netherlands (H.R.W., 2019) In detention in Tajikistan (H.R.W., 2019)
Press sources: Nadejda Atayeva, "Spain: a citizen of Tajikistan is under a threat of extradition," [blog], July 10, 2014, [Online]. Available at: http://nadejda-atayeva-en.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/spain-citizen-of-tajikistan-is-under.html; Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, "Tajik Opposition Group 24 News Leaders After Quvatov's Assassination," March 12, 2015. [Online] Available at: http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan-group-24-quvatov-leadership-new-exile/26898048.html. Радио озоди, "Шарофиддин Гадоев возглавил «Группу 24»". 12th March, 2015 [Online].Available at : https://rus.ozodi.org/a/26896693.html Радио озоди, "Видеообращение» родителей и брата Шарофиддина Гадоевa". 14th October 2015. [Online]. Available at: https://rus.ozodi.org/a/26636158.html