A trial involving prominent public figures began behind closed doors at a pretrial detention facility in Dushanbe on November 14. Only defense lawyers were allowed into the proceedings, and details of the case have not been disclosed.
It remains unclear which high-profile individuals are currently on trial. Defense lawyers declined to comment to the press.
Asia-Plus’s correspondent reported that family members of Shokirjon Hakimov were present outside the detention center. In addition to his lawyer, five other defense lawyers entered the building. Three judges and a representative from the Prosecutor General’s Office were also seen entering.
The country’s authorities, including the Supreme Court, have not released information about the case.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, citing reliable sources, stated that the trial is presided over by Shavkat Lutfullozoda, the First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court.
As it had been reported earlier, the following prominent figures have been detained as part of this case since June: Saidjafar Usmonzoda, former leader of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan and ex-parliament member; Akbarsho Iskandarov, former chairman of Tajikistan’s Supreme Council; Ahmadshoh Komilzoda, journalist and Democratic Party deputy chairman; Hamrokhon Zarifi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Shokirjon Hakimov, first deputy chairman of the Social-Democratic Party; Abdulfaiz Atoi, former spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan.
All of them are accused of attempting to seize power by force (Article 306 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code). Some of these figures are also charged with inciting national and religious discord (Article 189), both of which carry lengthy prison sentences.
Yusuf Rahmon, Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General, has confirmed that criminal proceedings have been instituted against Hamrokhon Zarifi, Akbarsho Iskandarov, Ahmadshoh Komilzoda, and Shokirjon Hakimov.
Citing a source close to the investigation who requested anonymity, Radio Ozodi reported on November 1 that two additional individuals have been detained in connection with Tajikistan’s high-profile “coup attempt” case. Radio Ozodi reported that the new detainees are two former officers of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS)—Nuramin Ghanizoda and Jamshed Boyev.
According to Radio Ozodi, retired Colonel Nuramin Ghanizoda previously served as an aide to Hamrokhon Zarifi during Zarifi's tenure as Tajikistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also briefly worked in Tajikistan’s Counting Chamber.
Little is known about Jamshed Boyev, other than that he is a retired Captain with Russian citizenship and receives a pension from Russia. According to the source, both individuals were detained in June, following the arrest of Hamrokhon Zarifi.
The views of detainees, their lawyers, and relatives on the charges remain unknown. This high-profile “coup attempt” case has been classified as “top secret”, preventing any information from reaching media. This lack of transparency has made it impossible to gather perspectives from the detainees, their legal representatives, or their families regarding the charges.
