The prosecutor’s office of the Kulob military garrison is investigating the cause of death of Botir Ergashev, a soldier in the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Tajikistan, who was serving in the Shamsiddin-Shohin district of Khatlon province. The soldier's family insists their son was murdered.
The body of 20-year-old Botir Ergashev was buried on November 12 in his native village in the Dehmoi jamoat of the Jabbor-Rasoulov district in Sughd province.
A day earlier, on November 11, representatives of the Border Troops and the local administration handed over the soldier's body to his parents, claiming that he “committed suicide”. However, the family states there were signs of physical abuse on his body and rejects the suicide claim.
The Kulob military prosecutor’s office confirmed to Asia-Plus that an investigation has been launched into the circumstances of Botir Ergashev's death. If legal violations are found, a criminal case will be initiated.
Botir’s father, Bahodour Ergashev, shared that his son had called home on November 10, one day before the tragedy, to congratulate his brother on his birthday and express happiness about his upcoming return home.
"He joined the service in 2022. There were only a few days left before his discharge. He never complained about his service," said Bahodour Ergashev.
The father said he does not believe his son would take his own life and claims there were clear signs of torture and abuse on his body.
"When I washed my son's body, I saw evidence of torture. There was a deep cut from his neck to his lower abdomen. There were stitches in two places on his head. On the back of his head, there was a large wound, possibly from a blow. His lips were split," Bahodour Ergashev recounted.
He is now demanding the authorities investigate and determine the cause of his son’s death. The father stated that he intends to appeal to higher authorities to seek justice.
It is worth noting that incidents of soldier deaths in military units are not uncommon in Tajikistan. Bullying and hazing — sometimes with lethal consequences — have been a serious problem in Tajikistan.
In a national report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, the Government of Tajikistan reportedly noted that more than 100 soldiers died during the from 2019 to 2021 mainly due to hazing in the army.
According to the Ombudsman for Human Rights, 40 cases of soldier deaths in the army were recorded in in Tajikistan in 2023 alone, with eight of them classified as suicides.
Additionally, 109 soldiers suffered various physical injuries due to hazing and other non-regulation interactions among servicemen, with two of them succumbing to their injuries.
