On Wednesday, February 5, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan issued verdicts in a high-profile case concerning an alleged attempt at a “state coup.” They are charged with state treason and seeking to seize political power in the country by force.
Among those sentenced were former officials, politicians, and journalists, including the ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, the former Chairman of the Supreme Council, and retired security officials.
The sentencing took place in the Dushanbe-based pretrial detention center, where the entire trial was held behind closed doors.
According to some, the court sentenced:
- Saidjafar Usmonzoda, Member of Parliament and former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan to 27 years in prison;
- Hamrokhon Zarifi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan to 27 years in prison;
- Shokirjon Hakimov, lawyer and First Deputy Chairman of the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan to 18 years in prison;
- Ahmadshoh Komilzoda, former Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party and journalist to 18 years in prison.
Furthermore, the court ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to Hamrokhon Zarifi and Saidjafar Usmonzoda.
Radio Ozodi, citing its sources, reports that Akbarshoh Iskandarov, former Chairman of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan (parliament speaker) was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Two retired colonels from the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), Nouramin Ghanizoda and Jamshed Boyev, were sentenced to 18 years in prison each.
Foreign Ministry department head, Abdulfayz Atoi, was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Furthermore, the court ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to Hamrokhon Zarifi and Saidjafar Usmonzoda.
All of the accused have previously denied the charges of attempting a coup
Additionally, the court sentenced Tajik journalist Rukhshona Hakimova, the niece of Shokirjon Hakimov, to 8 years in prison. Hakimova has been charged with treason, with prosecutors asking for 17 years' imprisonment. The charge of treason against Hakimova stems from a public survey she conducted on China's influence on Tajikistan as part of her work as a reporter last year.
As of now, the opinions of the convicted individuals' lawyers and relatives regarding the court’s decision remain unknown.
Recall eight public figures having been tried in secret in Dushanbe. The closed-door trial of them began on November 14.
The events began with a statement by the then Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon, who asked parliament on June 14 to revoke the legislative immunity of lawmaker Saidjafar Usmonzoda, who had been arrested two days earlier. Yusuf Rahmon announced at a parliamentary session that Usmonzoda was being charged under Article 306, Part 2, Clause "v" of the Criminal Code (Seizure of power through violence).
Tajikistan's top prosecutor claimed that Usmonzoda had been in contact with the banned National Alliance of Tajikistan to discuss a plan to “seize political power by force.”
Within days, prominent public figures — former Foreign Minister Hamrohkhon Zarifi, former parliament speaker Akbarshoh Iskandarov, deputy head of the Democratic Party Ahmadshoh Komilzoda, and the deputy leader of the Social-Democratic Party, Shokirjon Hakimov, were detained in Dushanbe.
Authorities also detained three other lesser-known officials — Abdulfaiz Atoi, Nouramin Ghanizoda and Jamshed Boyev.
Rahmon has claimed the plot involved seeking US$10 million from a “foreign government” while the banned Muslim extremist group Jamoati Ansorulloh was enlisted to provide some 3,000 militants for the takeover, an accusation that puzzled many because the defendants are known to be staunchly secular.
In August, prosecutors told reporters in Dushanbe that all of the cases being probed were “closely related.”
Since then, there has been no word from the authorities, court officials, or defense lawyers about the cases. All available information comes from various sources and has not been officially confirmed by authorities.
