Tajikistan's Prosecutor-General, Habibullo Vohidzoda, has commented for the first time on the shooting incident at the Khujand detention center that occurred on January 31, 2026. Speaking to journalists on February 13, he explained that three prisoners attacked prison staff during a walk, using various objects. All three attackers were neutralized.
According to Vohidzoda, no prison staff were killed in the incident, although all suffered bodily injuries. He did not provide further details on how many were injured.
This marks the first official comment on the incident, which was initially reported by Radio Ozodi in early February. Attempts by the media to gather additional details from official sources have been unsuccessful. The Minister of Justice, who oversees correctional facilities in the country, declined to comment.
The Prosecutor-General revealed that the attackers had been sentenced to 12-14 years in prison for terrorist and extremist crimes and had a history of violating prison rules, prompting enhanced security measures.
“While being held in the Khujand detention center, they attacked staff in the yard using various objects, causing bodily harm, and even assaulted another prisoner. When staff demanded they stop, they ignored the orders and resisted, creating a serious threat to the lives of the prison workers. In this situation, the attackers were neutralized,” Vohidzoda stated.
An investigation has been launched under Articles 332 and 365 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code.
“How this happened, why it happened, and who was responsible—these issues will be clarified during the investigation,” the Prosecutor-General emphasized.
This incident is not the first clash in Tajikistan's prisons. In November 2018, a riot occurred at Khujand’s high-security penal colony, where 21 prisoners were killed and two prison staff members were murdered.
In February 2025, another riot took place at the Vahdat correctional facility, resulting in the deaths of three prisoners and three guards.
Moreover, in 2019, a riot in the same prison led to 30 prisoners, armed with knives and other sharp objects, killing three prison staff members and intimidating other prisoners.
According to law enforcement, 29 prisoners died during this incident. The Tajik Supreme Court extended the sentences of 28 prisoners involved in organizing the riot.
Prison escapes are also not uncommon in Tajikistan, although nearly all attempts end in failure for the organizers, who are either killed or captured and returned to prison.
