Cases of more than 30 inmates participating in fatal Khujand prison riot have been classified as “top secret” and their trial will be held behind closed doors.
Prosecutor-General’s Office has completed investigation into criminal proceedings instituted against more than 30 inmates over the Khujand prison riot and their cases have moved to the Supreme Court.
An official source at the Supreme Court has confirmed that they received the cases and said that the trial will begin in the near future.
“The trial will be held behind closed doors because the cases have been classified as “top secret,” the source added.
Recall, the riot broke out at a high-security penal colony 3/3 in the northern city of Khujand late on November 7.
According to some sources, several inmates convicted of religious extremism and terrorism raised the riot at the Khujand high-security penal colony. They were reportedly armed with cold steels and one of them managed to disarm a guard, took his assault rifle and began shooting at guards and wardens.
Amaq news agency, which is linked to the Islamic State (IS) terror group, reported on November 8 that one of IS fighters “is responsible for the attack in Tajikistan that sparked a prison riot.”
Meanwhile, the Tajik authorities issued no public statements on the incident for more than two weeks after the violence.
Tajikistan authorities made the first comments on the Khujand prison riot on November 22.
Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin told reporters in Brussels on November 22 that 21 inmates were killed during the incident. He said that “12 of the rioters had fought in Syria and Iraq alongside Islamic State (IS) militants” and that three others were in prison after convictions for membership in other, unspecified, extremist groups.
Muhriddin also said that two other inmates were killed “while trying to help prison guards,” but provided no further explanation of that comment. Muhriddin also stated that two prison guards were killed and five others wounded.
Meanwhile, six prison officers, including a department chief, had reportedly been arrested on negligence charges. The arrests come amid mounting discussion regarding prison conditions.
