DUSHANBE, September 17, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tajik authorities say mutinous general Abduhalim Nazarzoda, who was killed in a special security operation in the Romit Gorge on September 16, was allegedly linked to the banned Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRP).
In a statement released on September 17, the Prosecutor-General”s Office says Abduhalim Nazarzoda and his followers were acting on orders by IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who is currently in self-imposed exile.
By order of IRP leader Nazarzoda formed more than 20 illegal groups in the country, the statement notes
In August, they allegedly made a decision to organize attacks on some buildings of the law enforcement agencies and cash means came to the country from so-called charitable funds of foreign countries for implementation of these goals.
On September 4, the mentioned groups attacked the police station in the Vahdat Township, clashed with security forces near the Dushanbe airport and killed police officers in the Roudaki district, according to the statement.
The Prosecutor’s Office on September 4 instituted criminal proceedings against masterminds and participants of the attacks under seven articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 187 – organizing a criminal group; Article 199 – seizure of weapons and ammunition; Article 104 – murder; Article 181 – hostage taking; Article 179 – terrorism; Article 329 — threat against law enforcement officers; and Article 392 – office abuse.
25 members of the group have been killed and 125 others arrested during the operation and weapons and vehicles have been seized from the group, the statement says.
The Prosecutor-General’s notes that fourteen servicemen of the country’s power-wielding structures have been killed during the operation.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the preliminary investigation has established that Nazarzoda owned nine enterprises, nine residential buildings, 56 vehicles, several workshops and several herds of cattle while his accomplices Junaidulloh Umarov and Muhiddin Kabiri owned real estate with a total cost of 120 million somoni.
The Prosecutor-General’s Office also named thirteen leaders and activists of the IRP as suspects, saying that they had been arrested for involvement in 20 illegal groups:
- Umarali Hisainov;
- Jobir Rajab;
- Abduqahhor Davlatov;
- Sattor Karimov;
- Zubaidullo Roziqov;
- Mahmadali Fayzmuhammad;
- Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda;
- Mahmadali Hayitov;
- Qiyomiddin Avazov;
10. Zarafo Khoujayeva;
11. Mahmadsharif Nabiyev;
12. Abdusamad Ghayratov;
13. Vohidkhon Qosidinov.
