The deputy prosecutor of Khatlon province Hamzali Muzofirzoda told reporters in Kulob yesterday that the trail in in the case of the explosion of a car of Salim Saivalizoda, the head of the organization of the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) for Kulob, will be completed next month.
He noted that he is the public prosecutor in the trial and “the case is in its final stage.” “All that remains is to hear the last words of the accused and make a decision on the case,” the prosecutor said.
Muzofirzoda also noted that nine people (eight men and one woman) were brought to justice in that case.
“They all admitted their guilt and expressed regret for what they had done. The leader of this group is Majidzoda (the prosecutor didn’t call his named – Asia-Plus) and the woman is his wife. She embroidered a flag of the Islamic State (IS) terror group and collaborated with other members of the group. Criminal proceedings against her have been instituted under the provisions of Article 307 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code — public calls to forcibly change the constitutional order,” the prosecutor said.
Recall, the Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda told reporters in Dushanbe on February15 that the explosion of Saivalizoda’s car is a terrorist attack that was committed by an organized terrorist group.
According to him, a large number of people have been detained by officers of the Interior Ministry and the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) on suspicion of being involved in that crime. The minister, however, didn’t give a specific number.
Meanwhile, Hamzali Muzofirzoda told reporters in Kulob on January 30 (at that time, he had served as a chief prosecutor in the Kulob rejoin of Khatlon province) that eight people have been arrested in the city of Kulob on suspicion of being involved in blowing up Saivalizoda’s car.
“After the incident that occurred in early January this year, two people were arrested on suspicion of being involved in that crime and criminal proceedings have been instituted against them under the provisions of two articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 179 – terrorism; and Article 307 — public calls to forcibly change the constitutional order,” Muzofirzoda said, noting that later six other people were arrested.
“Currently, eight people are being under arrest, and two of them are the main suspects in the car bombing,” said he. “They [those two main suspects] had contacts and collaborated with extremist groups. They even videotaped their crimes. Most of their accomplices have been identified. And now they will also be arrested, therefore, investigation into this case has been designated “secret.”
He added that those people have also been involved in terrorist acts in other districts of the region. Muzofirzoda refrained from further comments, just saying that all those arrested are residents of the city of Kulob.
The official car of Salim Saivalizoda was blown up in front of his house in Tudakafsh village on January 5, 2024. As a result of the explosion, Saivalizoda was wounded.
Authorities reportedly found “remnants of homemade explosive device” at the scene.
