A court in the city of Levakant, Khatlon province has delivered a verdict in the case of Farhod Nazarov, a teacher charged with slapping an 11th-grade student. The court sentenced Nazarov to compulsory labor without stripping him of the right to hold certain positions.
According to the Levakant City Court, the case was overseen by the court's chairman, Farhod Abdullozoda, and the verdict was issued on February 16.
"Farhod Nazarov has been sentenced under Article 174 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, 'Failure to Fulfill Duties in Educating and Raising Minors,' to 200 hours of compulsory labor. He will not be deprived of his right to hold specific positions or engage in certain activities. He will be required to work no more than three hours per day," the court spokesperson stated.
The court also confirmed that Nazarov had been ill and was treated in the neurology department of the Kushoniyon district hospital, which led to the suspension of proceedings from December 4, 2025, to February 13, 2026.
The source added, "Currently, his health is good."
Nazarov has not appealed the court's decision. His views on the verdict remain unknown, as attempts by Asia-Plus to contact him for comment were unsuccessful.
In a conversation with Asia-Plus, Safar Qurbonnazarov, the principal of School No. 4 in the village of Bokhturobod, which is subordinate to Levakant, confirmed that Nazarov is no longer employed at the institution but refrained from offering further details.
The incident that led to Nazarov's legal troubles occurred on September 6 of the previous year, when a conflict arose between the teacher and 11th-grade student Mehmed Bozorov. At the time, Nazarov explained to Asia-Plus that Bozorov had been disruptive in class and was not listening to his instructions, which led him to slap the student in response.
Following the incident, Bozorov filed a complaint, and the Levakant prosecutor's office initiated a criminal case. In October 2025, the case moved to a court.
The case sparked a significant public outcry. Many public figures voiced their support for the teacher, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan expressed its backing as well.
Conflicts between teachers and students in Tajik schools have been a subject of public discussion before. Last year, at least three similar incidents were reported in the media—one in the city of Bokhtar, the capital of Khalton province, and two in Khatlon’s Khovaling district.
