The appeals court of Tajikistan’s Supreme Court has upheld the latter’s verdict against persons convicted in the “attempted coup” case.
The appeals court of Tajikistan’s Supreme Court began reviewing their cassation appeals Tuesday (April 1) morning and the hearing concluded Wednesday (April 2) afternoon.
One of the lawyers, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that "all the convicted individuals and their defenders spoke in court and presented their arguments."
According to the lawyer, the defense and the accused requested a review of the verdict, but the cassation appeals were not granted — the sentence remained unchanged.
Recall, nine individuals were convicted in this case on February 5, 2025. They include:
- Hamrokhon Zarifi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, sentenced to 27 years in prison;
- Saidjafar Usmonzoda, former chairman of the Democratic Party and ex-MP, sentenced to 27 year in prison;
- Jamshed Boboyev, retired colonel from the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), sentenced to 21 years in prison;
- Ahmadsho Komilzoda, journalist and former deputy head of the Democratic Party, sentenced to 19 years in prison;
- Akbarsho Iskandarov, former Chairman of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan (parliament speaker), sentenced to 18 years in prison;
- Shokirjon Hakimov, prominent lawyer and first deputy chairman of the Social-Democratic Party, sentenced to 18 year in prison;
- Nourahmad Ghanizoda, retired colonel from the SCNS, sentenced to 18 years in prions;
- Abdulfayoz Atoi, Foreign Ministry department head, sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Furthermore, the court ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to Hamrokhon Zarifi, Saidjafar Usmonzoda and Akbarsho Iskandarov.
Most of them were charged with high treason and attempting to seize power.
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.
On February 20, an official source within the Supreme Court told Asia-Plus that all defendants in the coup case had filed cassation appeals.
