Jamshed Yorov is a distinguished lawyer and human rights defender with over 20 years of experience in defending fundamental freedoms, advocating for political prisoners, and promoting the rule of law in authoritarian regimes. His expertise spans international human rights law, strategic litigation, and legal mechanisms to counter state repression.
From 2008 to 2016, he worked as a defense attorney in Tajikistan, representing political prisoners, civil society activists, and human rights defenders in high-profile cases. His unwavering commitment to justice led to systematic persecution by the authorities. In August 2016, he was arrested on charges of “disclosing state secrets” and spent 38 days in a detention facility in Dushanbe. Although released under amnesty, continuous government pressure ultimately forced him into exile.
Since then, he has actively collaborated with leading international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe. His work focuses on documenting human rights violations in Central Asia, advocating for democratic reforms, providing legal assistance to victims of persecution, and engaging with international mechanisms to hold authoritarian regimes accountable.
As Senior Lawyer at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy in Central Asia (FDDCA), he plays a key role in legal advocacy, strategic litigation, and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and human rights protections in the region. His work involves preparing international legal complaints, monitoring political repression, supporting democratic movements, and advancing justice through international legal frameworks.
In 2019, Jamshed Yorov received the Diploma of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, established by the Council of Europe, on behalf of his brother, Buzurgmehr Yorov, who was nominated for this prestigious award but was imprisoned for his professional activities. Buzurgmehr Yorov, a prominent human rights lawyer, was arrested on September 28, 2015, and sentenced to 29 years in prison on politically motivated charges. This award stands as a testament to his courage and the resilience of the Yorov family in their pursuit of justice and the rule of law.
Jamshed Yorov’s work continues to receive recognition from leading international human rights and democracy organizations, reinforcing global calls to end the persecution of lawyers, activists, and opposition figures in Central Asia. Through his role at FDDCA, he remains committed to strengthening democratic resilience, advocating for justice, and ensuring accountability for human rights violations across the region.