[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

"The service was unaware of the deaths of 8 Afghan workers in a coal mine in Aini", 24 July 2025

Tajikistan's Industrial and Mining Safety Supervision Service reported an increase in deaths at industrial enterprises, but expressed uncertainty over the deaths of 8 Afghans in the north of the country.

Sanat Rahim, the head of the agency, said during a press conference on July 22 that in the first half of this year, 24 accidents were recorded at factories, resulting in 18 deaths and 20 injuries.

He emphasized that the number of worker deaths has increased by 4 and the number of injuries by 14 compared to the same period last year.

According to the head of the Industrial Safety Supervision Service, there are also foreign nationals among the dead, but he expressed ignorance about the deaths of 8 Afghans in the north of the country.

He said they also learned about the incident from the media and contacted the Tajik Metallurgical Plant, local government officials, law enforcement agencies, and the hospital. However, according to Sanat Rahimov, none of these agencies confirmed the incident...

This comes after a source in the Industry and Mining Supervision Service previously told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the Ayni District Prosecutor's Office had begun investigating the deaths of 8 Afghans in a coal mine.

Representatives of the Industrial Safety Supervision Service cite the irresponsibility of technical engineers, the insignificance of victims, non-compliance with safety regulations, and the lack of specialists in the field as the main causes of fatal accidents. However, victims have repeatedly complained about the authorities turning a blind eye to the violations committed by enterprise officials...