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Sentences Handed to Six Individuals in FSB Building Terror Plot Case

In a recent development concerning the case of plotting an explosion in the FSB building on Lubyanka, a Moscow court has handed down sentences ranging from 16 to 22 years in prison to five Tajiks and one Dagestani. The severity of the verdict echoes the gravity of their involvement in planning a terrorist attack in May 2022. The individuals sentenced include citizens of Tajikistan—Manuchehr and Rajabali Buriev, Abdumalik Samiev, Samandar Toshmurodov, and Abdukodir Toirov—alongside Russian-born Gadzhimurad Gasanaliev. Fines ranging from 600,000 to a million rubles were imposed on all the defendants by the court. The legal process further extends from a previous ruling by the Moscow Regional Military Court, which sentenced the same six individuals to prison terms between 12 to 18 years for planning a terrorist attack and illegal possession of explosives, among other charges. While four of the accused admitted guilt, two pleaded partially guilty during the trial. Investigative reports revealed the defendants' intentions to detonate a bomb inside a minibus in the Moscow suburb of Lyubertsy in 2016. Additionally, authorities claimed their allegiance to the extremist group Islamic State (IS), intending to join IS militants in Syria post the planned attack. This case reflects a larger concern regarding individuals from Russia and former Soviet republics joining extremist groups in conflict zones like Syria and Iraq. Rights activists in Russia have raised concerns about the treatment and legal representation of migrants from Central Asian states, citing inadequate protection against unjust treatment by authorities. As the legal proceedings unfold, this case stands as a stark reminder of the vigilance required to counter terrorism and the ongoing challenges surrounding effective legal representation and protection for individuals involved in such cases.

Son of Former Minister Faces 7-day Administrative Arrest Following Dushanbe Restaurant Altercation

A clash at the Bukhoro-Palace Restaurant in Dushanbe led to the detention of four individuals, including Alisher Gulov, the 25-year-old son of former Minister of Energy and Industry Sherali Gul, and Sherdil Sirojev, son of a prominent Tajik businessman linked to the Jal-Jam bazaar's demolition in 2019. The Dushanbe Police Directorate's official website disclosed this incident on December 1, noting the involvement of Alisher Gulov and Sirojev in a major altercation that occurred on the night of November 30. The detained individuals, comprising Alisher Gulov, Rahmon Mahmadbekov (26), Jasour Khojayev (26), and Suhrob Sharipov (27), all residents of Dushanbe, were confirmed to be in a state of inebriation following a medical examination, as per the official statement. In adherence to Article 460 of the Administrative Code, classifying disorderly conduct, authorities filed an administrative offense report against them, subsequently transferring the case to a Dushanbe court located in the Ismoili Somoni district. Each individual received a reported sentence of seven days of administrative arrest. Reports from Radio Liberty's Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, shed light on the confrontation between Alisher Gulov, an Interior Ministry officer, and Sherdil Sirojev. This altercation resulted in injuries sustained by two associates of Gulov, along with Sirojev and his friend Mirsaid, who were subsequently admitted to a hospital for treatment.

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Tajik Political Activist Sentenced to 8 ½ Years in Prison

A court in Dushanbe has sentenced Nizomiddin Nasriddinov, a former activist of the Group 24 opposition movement, to 8 1/2 years in prison on a charge of making public calls to forcibly change Tajikistan's constitutional order, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reported. According to an anonymous source involved in the trial, RFE/RL was informed on October 5th that the Ismoili Somoni district court delivered Nasriddinov's verdict and sentence on September 29th. The source added that the former activist pleaded not guilty. Court officials and Nasriddinov’s relatives declined to comment on the matter. The court requested RFE/RL to submit an official letter for comment. Recently, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights Watch, Freedom for Eurasia, and Freedom Now jointly urged Tajik authorities to drop what they deemed as "fabricated" charges against Nasriddinov and release him immediately. Nasriddinov was detained by Belarusian authorities in January at the request of Dushanbe when he entered Belarus from Lithuania. Subsequently, he was extradited to Tajikistan in July. Notably, Nasriddinov holds refugee status in Germany. His affiliation with Group 24, which was designated as a terrorist and extremist organization and banned in the tightly governed former Soviet republic in 2014, has been highlighted. In March 2015, the movement's founder, businessman Umarali Quvatov, was assassinated in Istanbul. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, known for his nearly 30-year firm grip on the Central Asian nation, has faced criticism from international human rights groups. They accuse his administration of disregarding independent media, religious freedoms, civil society, and political diversity. In the past year, Tajik courts sentenced seven journalists and bloggers to prison terms ranging from seven to 21 years. They were charged with spreading false information, involvement in extremist activities, and association with banned groups. Both the accused and their supporters, alongside human rights organizations, have labeled these charges as baseless and politically motivated

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Tajikistan Reports Killing of Three Militants Crossing Afghan Border

Tajikistan has confirmed the killing of three individuals from a "terrorist group" who infiltrated the country from neighboring Afghanistan. Announced on September 6th by the KDAM security service, this incident marks the second occurrence of its kind this year. The three individuals made the crossing overnight on August 30th with the intention of “committing a terrorist act ahead of Tajikistan's national holiday” on September 9th, according to a KDAM statement. Identified as Tajikistan natives, the trio was neutralized early on September 5th. The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan has heightened apprehensions about potential instability in Tajikistan.

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Relatives of Exiled Tajik Activists Arrested

As per RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, Tajik authorities have apprehended relatives of several self-exiled activists following an incident where President Emomali Rahmon's vehicle was targeted with eggs during his visit to Berlin last week. The activists said that family members of Sharofiddin Gadoev, Dilshod Sharifov, Ismoil Mahmadov, Jamshed Sharifov, Behruz Taghoizoda, and Muhammadjon Abdulloev—all affiliated with the opposition Group 24—were taken into custody over the weekend on unspecified charges. The incident involving Rahmon’s car occurred while he and leaders from four other Central Asian nations were in Berlin on August 29 for discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.