DUSHANBE, July 13, 2010, Asia-Plus — An investigation team from the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) has been engaged in investigation into cases instituted against ex-Minister of Emergencies Mirzo Ziyoyev and his supporters, Prosecutor General Sherkhon Salimzoda told reporters in Dushanbe today.
“To-date, the Supreme Court has sentenced only two sons of Mirzo Ziyoev to prison terms up to 30 years; Saidahmad Ziyoev was sentenced to 28 years and Muhamamdrizo Ziyoev got a jail term of 30 years,” Tajik chief prosecutor said. According to him, they were convicted for participation in clashes with the government law enforcement forces in Tavildara district (eastern Tajikistan) last summer.
Salimzoda noted that the trial of 46 supporters of Mirzo Ziyoyev was under way in the Supreme Court. Among them are also citizens of foreign countries, including Russia.
“They face charges of forming illegal armed groupings for the purpose of overthrowing or forcibly changing the constitutional order of the country, terrorism, and participation in attacks on police stations and roadblocks of the government forces,” the prosecutor general noted.
We will recall that last summer, illegal armed groups clashed with police in Tavildara district on two separate occasions. Tajik officials reported in early July last year that Mirzo Ziyoev had been arrested because of his support for armed groups suspected of involvement in terrorism and drug trafficking. Tajik authorities announced shortly afterward that Ziyoev was killed in ambush by his supporters on his way to negotiate the disarming of insurgents. His supporters deny any responsibility for his death.
Last July, Tajik law enforcement forces were fighting insurgents in the area for several weeks. Tajik authorities conducted what they said was an anti-drug operation in the area.
