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Seven teens get jail terms from 6 to 12 years for the murder of a peer in Dushanbe

By
Нигора Бухаризаде
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Ҷои ҳодиса, акс asia+

Minor N. R., who committed the murder of another teenager — Ali Rajabov, has been sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. Six other individuals, who instigated the conflict, have each been sentenced to 6 years in prison.

17-year-old Ali Rajabov was killed during a brawl among a group of minors on the night of November 9, 2025, in Dushanbe.
Nargiz Rajabova, the mother of Ali Rajabov, stated in a phone conversation with “Asia-Plus” on March 31 that the sentence for N. R., the main suspect, and other participants in the conflict was handed down in early March at the Dushanbe city court.

Rajabova expressed that they do not agree with the court’s verdict regarding the main convicted individual.

“These years will pass, but my child will never return. My son did not participate in the fight but was killed, receiving five stab wounds. Meanwhile, nothing happened to the organizers of this conflict,” the woman said.

According to her, after the tragedy her husband fell ill, and the parents of the suspect have not contacted them even once.

Previously, authorities reported that a criminal case had been opened against N. R. on charges of murder (Article 104 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan). A source at school No. 76 in the Sino district, where the convicted minor was studying in the 10th grade, confirmed to “Asia-Plus” the 12-year sentence given to him.

“Six other individuals involved in the conflict received 6 years of imprisonment each. Among them were two — I. O. and K. G. — who were 10th-grade students at our school,” the source reported.

It remains unknown under which articles of the Criminal Code the six convicted minors have been charged.

The Dushanbe city court did not provide “Asia-Plus” with details of the verdict in this case, requiring an official written request. A representative of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan also did not clarify the details.

The opinion of the convicted individuals and their relatives regarding the court’s verdict is unknown.

Rahmatsho Rahmatshozoda, the father of N. R., neither confirmed nor denied the sentence against his son. Earlier, in a conversation with “Asia-Plus,” he mentioned that he did not expect such behavior from his child.

Recall that as a result of the brawl among a group of minors on the night of November 9, 2025, Ali Rajabov, a 10th-grade student at school No. 78 in Dushanbe, was killed. Another minor was also injured at that time.

The law enforcement agencies only reported the incident on November 12. The Dushanbe police stated that the conflict began due to verbal disagreements on social media.

This is not the first case in Tajikistan of a minor dying as a result of group fights; similar cases have repeatedly been covered in the media. In particular, in January of this year, during a conflict among a group of teenagers in the city of Kulob, Tajik MMA fighter Mukhamadal S’adulloev was killed, and two other participants in the conflict were injured. Authorities reported that a criminal case had been opened against 6 individuals, with two suspects detained.

One dead, five injured in rockfall incident in GBAO’s Vanj distirct

By
Farhod Baqoev
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Radio Ozodi

A rockfall in the Vanj district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) district has left one young conscript dead and five others injured after stones struck a bus transporting recruits from GBAO’s Shugnan district to the army.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of April 2 in the Khekhik area of Yazgulem jamoat of Vanj district.

Sources from Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, in Vanj reported that the body of 18-year-old conscript Maksim Aidarbekov has been returned to his home district of Shugnan. Five other recruits, all natives of Shugnan district, were airlifted to Dushanbe for medical treatment. The injured are between 20 and 26 years old.

According to Radio Ozodi’s sources, rocks that broke loose from the mountainside struck the middle of the bus, causing the tragedy.

The bus, along with a convoy of other vehicles, was transporting newly recruited conscripts from Khorog, the administrative center of GBAO, to the capital.

There has been no official confirmation of the incident or additional details available so far.

The accident occurred one day after a ceremony marking the departure of GBAO conscripts to military service.

The capital of Tajikistan prepares for the Sambo World Cup

By
Роза Шапошник
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0

Tajikistan will once again be at the center of world sambo: in 2026, Dushanbe will host the World Cup. The decision of the Executive Committee of the International Sambo Federation turns the capital of the country into one of the key venues on the world calendar.

At the meeting of the Executive Committee of FIAS, the updated calendar of major tournaments for 2026 was approved.

The key news is that the World Sambo Cup will take place in August in Dushanbe. The tournament will include competitions in sports and combat sambo for men and women, which means that the strongest sambists from around the globe will come to the capital of Tajikistan.

This decision is not a coincidence but a continuation of the course to develop sambo in the country. In recent years, Dushanbe has already hosted a stage of the World Cup and major international events, including the World Championship for veterans.

Holding the World Cup is not just another tournament, but a sign of trust from the international federation. It is expected that the tournament will gather dozens of countries and hundreds of participants, and the competitions themselves will be held at a level corresponding to the status of one of the main events of the season.

In addition to calendar decisions, FIAS approved significant changes to the rules of sambo. These changes affected several areas – from sports and combat sambo to competitions for athletes with visual and hearing impairments. Requirements for equipment were updated, including safety standards, and classification and judging regulations were revised.

Particular attention was paid to the development of para-sambo – new norms for blind and visually impaired athletes were approved, making this sport even more accessible and modern.

Changes also affected other tournaments. The World Sambo Championship, which was previously planned to be held in Samarkand, has been moved to Tashkent. Thus, Central Asia will become a real center of world sambo in 2026: in summer – the World Cup in Dushanbe, in autumn – the World Championship in Tashkent.

The FIAS calendar for 2026 looks busy and geographically diverse. The Asian and Oceanian Championship will take place in Manila, the world tournament in beach sambo – in Brazil, the youth world championship – in Greece, and the masters’ world championship – in Cyprus.

Nusratullo Davlatzoda: “Asia-Plus has become a symbol of responsible journalism, timely coverage, and in-depth analysis of events”

By
Нигора Бухаризаде
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The media holding Asia-Plus celebrates the 30th anniversary of its founding. On April 2, 1996, the first issue of the information and analytical bulletin of our news agency was published — this date is considered the birthday of Asia-Plus.

We are congratulated on this anniversary by the chairman of the Tax Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Nusratullo Davlatzoda:

“The Tax Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan warmly congratulates the team and leadership of the media group Asia-Plus on the anniversary — the 30th anniversary of its founding.

Three decades is a long journey of responsibility, professionalism, and dedication to journalistic principles. Since 1995, when the first issue of the information and analytical bulletin was registered, and since 2000, when the printed newspaper was launched, Asia-Plus has confidently taken leading positions among independent media in Tajikistan, becoming a source of news.

During this time, Asia-Plus has become a symbol of responsible journalism, timely coverage of events, and profound analytical content. Your materials are used by government institutions, international organizations, diplomatic missions, and the business community, while the information portal remains one of the most visited and authoritative resources in the country.

It is important to note the significant awards and recognitions that have confirmed the high professional level of your team: the Tajikistan Union of Journalists award named after A. Lohuti, presented to the newspaper, notable victories of journalists at the prestigious Media CAMP Award in 2021, where representatives of your editorial team were recognized in several categories for the best journalistic materials, as well as the long-standing recognition of the newspaper’s work as a source of timely and reliable news with the highest circulation among socio-political publications in the republic.

As your editors rightly said, “…the newspaper has become not just a source of information — it has become a reflection of our history, the voice of society, and a place of strength for talented journalists.”

On this significant day, we express our deep respect to your media family for its contribution to strengthening information sovereignty, developing the professional community, and nurturing a new generation of journalists.

We wish the media group Asia-Plus further success, creative inspiration, technical innovations, and the continuation of its role as the leading voice of independent and responsible journalism in Tajikistan and beyond. May your achievements continue to serve as an example of high journalistic mastery and service to society.”

Why does Tajik business prefer to operate in Uzbekistan?

By
Роза Шапошник
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0
Президенты Таджикистана и Узбекистана

According to the Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, there are about 410 enterprises registered in Uzbekistan with the participation of legal entities and individuals from Tajikistan. This information is based on data from the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In particular, Uzbekistan has registered 308 limited liability companies and 102 joint ventures, of which 144 companies are engaged in trade, 89 in industry, 43 in construction, and 33 in information technology and communications.

“The main reason for the increasing number of enterprises involving citizens of Tajikistan in Uzbekistan is the influence of common economic factors.

For comparison, Uzbekistan’s population exceeds 37 million people (in Tajikistan – over 10 million), and the conditions for doing business in the neighboring country are much more favorable than in our republic. Therefore, Tajik companies are opening businesses in Uzbekistan to expand their activities, enter a market that is almost four times larger than ours, and take advantage of other opportunities,” the statement says.

According to the Unified State Register, more than 45% of legal entities and individuals registered as founders in companies in Uzbekistan continue their entrepreneurial activities in Tajikistan, being founders and managers of legal entities.

This also confirms the growth potential of Tajik companies. “From an economic point of view, the increase in the number of enterprises involving legal entities and individuals from Tajikistan in Uzbekistan is related to the rational choice of entrepreneurs. This confirms that Tajik entrepreneurs view Uzbekistan as a more promising and broader market for growth and additional profitability,” emphasized the Tax Committee of Tajikistan.

Uzbek Business in Tajikistan

According to the Tax Committee, there are 155 entities registered in Tajikistan with the participation of legal entities and individuals from Uzbekistan. In 2025, these enterprises paid taxes to the budget totaling more than 38 million somoni, which is 7.8 million somoni more compared to 2024.

As of January 1, 2026, more than 3,500 business entities with the participation of legal entities and individuals from other countries are registered in Tajikistan.

In particular:

China — 1117

Russia — 403

Afghanistan — 424

Iran — 328

Turkey — 157

Uzbekistan — 155

Kazakhstan — 109

In general, according to the tax authority, investors from more than 85 countries are actively operating in Tajikistan.

According to the Unified State Register, as of January 1, 2026, the total number of economic entities in Tajikistan amounted to 381 thousand, which is 15.8 thousand more than at the beginning of 2025.

From Trade to Joint Business

The Tax Committee notes that economic relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have transitioned from simple trade in goods to deeper forms of integration, such as the creation of joint ventures and mutual investments.

The department emphasizes that relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have significantly strengthened in recent years, leading to substantial changes in economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

“The open door policy proposed by the leaders of both countries creates favorable conditions for expanding entrepreneurial activities and increasing mutual investments,” the statement says.

According to the statistical agency of Tajikistan, the total trade turnover between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in 2025 exceeded $718 million, which is 22.5% more compared to 2024. Uzbekistan’s share in Tajikistan’s total foreign trade turnover in 2025 was 6.7%. In this regard, Uzbekistan ranks fourth, following China, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

Overall, trade turnover between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan has increased more than 10.3 times over the last 10 years — from just over $70 million in 2016 to over $718 million in 2025.

And a couple of figures from the earlier history of cooperation – in the 90s, Uzbekistan was the main trading partner of Tajikistan. In 1995, the bilateral trade turnover was $250 million, which was twice as much as the total turnover with other CIS countries. For example, Tajikistan’s trade turnover with Russia at that time was $136 million.

Iran responded to Donald Trump’s threat of returning to the “Stone Age”

By
Роза Шапошник
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0

The USA threatens Iran with “being thrown back to the Stone Age” due to “Hollywood illusions,” said on social media X the commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Majid Mousavi.

“It is you who are burying your soldiers, not Iran, which you believe should return to the Stone Age. Hollywood illusions have so infected your thinking that, with a modest 250-year history, you threaten a civilization that is over 6000 years old,” wrote Mousavi.

Iran and the Stone Age are separated by thousands of years, stated Mehdi Tabatabai, deputy for public relations and information in the Iranian presidential administration.

“If we are talking about a return to the Stone Age, then the finish line for them is much, much closer,” he added.

The day before, the US president threatened to throw Iran “back to the Stone Age.” Trump, in an address to the nation, promised to end the war with Iran “very quickly.” However, he did not specify exact timelines for the end of the conflict.

At the same time, he warned that new powerful strikes could be inflicted on Tehran in the coming weeks: if Iran does not agree to a deal, the USA will deliver “very strong strikes on each of their power plants, and likely simultaneously.”

“Back to the Stone Age,” wrote then on X the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.

On Wednesday, Trump stated that Iran allegedly contacted the USA requesting a ceasefire. According to him, Washington will only consider this issue if the Strait of Hormuz is opened. However, this information was rejected by Iran.

On February 28, the USA and Israel announced a military operation against Iran, and numerous strikes were carried out across the country. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US bases in the region—in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

The Iranian ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, on April 1 listed the conditions that Tehran considers necessary for achieving peace. They include a complete cessation of “aggression and terrorist acts”; providing “objective and credible guarantees” against the recurrence of aggression and war; full compensation for material and moral damage; and respect for Iran’s legal jurisdiction in the Strait of Hormuz.

Previously, Trump stated that Tehran agreed to most of the 15 points of the US plan to end the war, 12 of which are Washington’s demands.

Tajikistan begins implementation of an ambitious program for the digitalization of the economy

By
Роза Шапошник
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0
Изображение сгенерировано ИИ

The government of Tajikistan has approved the Medium-Term Program for the Development of the Digital Economy for the years 2026-2030.

The document, published on the legal information portal of the Ministry of Justice of the country, provides for the creation of digital infrastructure, the digitization of public services, the development of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, as well as the formation of an innovative ecosystem in the country.

It is expected that an important aspect will be ensuring sustainable development through digital solutions in various sectors, which will enhance Tajikistan’s competitiveness on the international stage.

Key Areas of the Program

The Medium-Term Program is focused on several key areas.

Development of digital infrastructure. This includes the development of 5G networks, the creation of data centers, and ensuring broadband access throughout the country. It is particularly important to provide infrastructure to remote regions.

Digitization of public services. The program includes the creation of a unified platform for providing all public services in digital format through the eHukumat portal, which will increase the accessibility and transparency of government processes for citizens.

Education and training of personnel. The training of specialists in the field of information technology and the digital economy will be strengthened, which is especially important for the further development of the country’s innovative potential. New educational programs and advanced training centers will be established for this purpose.

Development of artificial intelligence and digital entrepreneurship. The program envisions the widespread implementation of artificial intelligence, which will impact all sectors, including healthcare, transportation, agriculture, and the energy sector. The development of digital technologies in entrepreneurship will ensure the growth of startups and the creation of new jobs.

Cybersecurity and data protection. An important part of the program is the establishment of a system to protect against cyberattacks, which is a necessary condition for the development of the digital economy in the context of increasing threats in the field of information technology.

Goals and Objectives of the Program

The goal of the program is to create an ecosystem of the digital economy that will ensure productivity growth and improve the quality of life for the population by providing access to modern digital services and platforms. The program also aims to promote innovation, improve the investment climate, and strengthen transparency in public administration.

The main objectives include:

Strengthening the institutional framework for the development of the digital economy.

Developing infrastructure to enhance the accessibility and quality of public services.

Stimulating digital entrepreneurship and innovative activities.

Increasing the level of digital literacy among the population.

Financing and Monitoring

The implementation of the program will be financed from the state budget, the private sector, and international partners. It is expected that the total volume of funding will amount to approximately 2366.8 million somoni. At the same time, international partners will make up the largest share of the funding.

The Agency for Innovations and Digital Technologies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan will oversee the implementation of the program, conducting monitoring and evaluation of the progress of the planned activities.

Expected Results

The program aims for a significant improvement in the digitalization of the country. In particular:

– an increase in the share of the digital economy in the GDP of the republic;

– improved accessibility of the internet and the implementation of new 5G technologies;

– the creation of modern digital platforms for businesses and public authorities;

– the development of a startup ecosystem and the attraction of investments.

Problems and Challenges

The authors of the program note that the digitalization process in Tajikistan faces a number of problems, including low levels of digital literacy, limited resources for investment, and insufficient coordination among various government agencies. They also consider the issue of ensuring cybersecurity to be an important aspect, which should be a priority at all stages of digitalization.

It is expected that the program will open new opportunities for the development of business, education, and public administration, and the implementation of modern technologies and the development of digital platforms will make the country’s economy more efficient and competitive, strengthening its position on the international stage.

Tajikistan dropped three places in the new FIFA ranking

By
Роза Шапошник
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0

The Tajikistan national team has dropped three positions and is now ranked 103rd in the FIFA ranking (1221.78 points). In the ranking published on November 19, 2026, the Tajikistan team was in 100th place.

Since then, the Tajik team has played one match. In Gissar, the team drew with the Philippines (1:1) and lost 3.14 points in the FIFA ranking.

A total of 211 teams are represented in the FIFA list. In the Top 10 of the ranking, after friendly victories over Brazil (2:1) and Colombia (2:1), the French team has risen from third to first place, pushing Spain and Argentina down.

The top ten also includes: England (1825.97), Portugal (1763.83), Brazil (1761.16), the Netherlands (1757.87), Morocco (1755.87), Belgium (1734.71), and Germany (1730.37).

Among Central Asian countries, the Uzbekistan national team ranks 50th, the Kyrgyzstan team is in 107th place in the FIFA ranking, the Kazakhstan team is in 110th place, and Turkmenistan is 141st.

Among Asian teams, Japan leads at 18th place in the world ranking, followed by Iran (21) and South Korea (25). The top ten includes Australia (27), Uzbekistan (50), Qatar (55), Iraq (57), Saudi Arabia (61), Jordan (63), and the UAE (68).

The next FIFA ranking will be published on June 10, 2026.

FIFA Ranking, TOP-10:

1 (3). France – 1877.32.

2 (1). Spain – 1876.40.

3 (2). Argentina – 1874.81.

4 (4). England – 1825.97.

5 (6). Portugal – 1763.83.

6 (5). Brazil – 1761.16.

7 (7). Netherlands – 1757.87.

8 (8). Morocco – 1755.87.

9 (9). Belgium – 1734.71.

10 (10). Germany – 1730.37.

It is worth noting that Tajikistan’s best ranking was 99th place in February 2024. This occurred after a successful performance in the final stage of the Asian Cup in Qatar.

The second-best ranking for Tajikistan in the world rankings was 100th place in November 2025.

The biggest leap in the ranking was a rise to 106th place in July 2013, when the team managed to climb 40 spots (!).

The worst result in the monthly rankings was recorded in 2003 – 180th place. The worst annual average for the team was recorded in 2002 – 168th place out of 207.

In Kulob, a suspect in the murder of two women and a six-year-old child has been detained.

By
Роза Шапошник
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0
Куляб фото asia+

On the night of April 2, the sisters — 28-year-old Zuhro Kurbonova, 20-year-old Tahmina Shokhmakhmadi, and their six-year-old nephew Abubakr Kurbonov — were killed by knife blows.

A source close to the investigative authorities of the Khatlon region informed Radio Ozodi that a 32-year-old resident of the Shamsiddin Shohin district, Safarali Vali, has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the murder.

“He is the husband of Zuhro Kurbonova and worked as a loader at the flour sales point in the ‘Faravon’ market in Dushanbe,” the source said.

According to his relatives, Zuhro Kurbonova lived with Safarali Vali in Dushanbe until February of this year, but after a conflict, she moved to Kulob, to her parents’ house. Relatives claim that the man had previously threatened to kill his wife.

The position of Safarali Vali in this case is currently unknown.

According to sources from Radio Ozodi, in his initial statements, the man claimed that around two o’clock in the morning, he entered the house and mistakenly attacked his sister-in-law Tahmina Shokhmakhmadi, who was in her eighth month of pregnancy and living at her parents’ house, preparing for the birth of her child.

“Safarali Vali told the investigation that after his wife woke up and screamed, he, recognizing her, also attacked her. At the same time, he stated that he did not harm his two children, who were sleeping in the same room,” one of the sources from the law enforcement agencies of the region reported.

Radio Ozodi cannot confirm or deny the veracity of these statements.

Other details of the incident, including the motive for the attack on the six-year-old Abubakr Kurbonov, remain unknown. The boy was the son of Fotima Kurbonova — another sister of the murdered women, who was working in Russia at the time.

Iran announced a strike on Amazon’s data center in Bahrain

By
Роза Шапошник
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0
Фото: Sepahnews/Keystone Press Agency/Global Look Press

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the cloud data center of the American company Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Bahrain, IRIB reported citing the Iranian military’s press service. They claim that the center has been destroyed.

The strike was carried out as a warning, the IRGC stated. If the United States continues its terrorist acts, killing officials and their families, the punishment will be harsher, and the company in the region will be completely destroyed, the statement emphasized.

The IRIB report also mentioned that, according to Amazon’s own statement, the company will leave the region. On March 24, Reuters reported with reference to an Amazon representative that “drone activity” in the Middle East disrupted the operations of AWS’s regional division in Bahrain.

On March 2, the company reported that facilities in Bahrain and the UAE were left without power, and Amazon was working on restoration, including transferring computing loads to other regions.

Bahrain houses the largest regional data center of Amazon, which was opened in 2019 and provides advanced cloud services in the Gulf countries and the Middle East, the Iranian agency Fars clarifies.

The AWS regional division in Bahrain has already been targeted by strikes from Iran. Previously, the IRGC struck the Amazon data processing center in Bahrain on March 3, and also attacked two of the company’s facilities in the UAE. As a result, according to the company, the attacks caused structural damage, power outages, and fires, the extinguishing of which led to additional damage from flooding.

Earlier, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps promised on the evening of April 1 to attack the facilities of 18 American companies in the Middle East. Among the potential targets were — units of Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, IBM, HP, Intel, Tesla, Boeing, and JP Morgan.

“Since the main element in developing and tracking targets for assassinations are American companies operating in the ICT and AI sectors, they will become our legitimate targets,” the IRGC statement said.

The IRGC called on employees of American companies in the region to “immediately leave their workplaces,” and urged residents living near the offices of these companies to relocate to a safe place, as “companies actively involved in terrorist plots will face retaliatory measures for every assassination.”

Iran continues to bomb the region

The UAE Ministry of Defense reported during the day that Iran launched 19 missiles and 26 drones at the country on Thursday. According to the ministry, since the beginning of the conflict, the total number of launched missiles has reached 457, and drones — 2038, BBC writes.

The Kuwaiti armed forces stated that over the past 24 hours they intercepted two missiles and 13 drones. The authorities of Qatar, in turn, reported that their air defense systems destroyed all drones directed towards the country.

The Israeli army also reported that on the first day of Passover, Iran launched about 20 missiles at Israel, but none of them reached their target.

On Thursday, Iran continued its missile strikes against Israel. Additionally, around 130 missiles were launched by the Hezbollah group from Lebanon towards northern areas of the country. Yemeni Houthis also announced a new attempt to attack Israel. According to Israeli sources, as a result of the shelling by Hezbollah, four people were injured.

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