Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reported yesterday that the issue of participation of Tajikistanis in the Russia-Ukraine war was dissed at a joint meeting of the country’s power-wielding structures that took place in Dushanbe last week.
Radio Ozodi’s two sources (one of them works in the diplomatic structures and another one works in the law enforcement structures) reportedly said on May 12 that the issue of participation of Tajikistan nationals in the Russia-Ukraine war has bene discussed at a joint meeting of senior representatives of the power-wielding structures.
The meeting was reportedly convened after Russian MP Mikhail Matveyev on May 6 called to form the “Tajik battalion.” Where are Tajik battalions?” the MP asked, wondering why labor migrants from Central Asia are not recruited within the framework of the partial mobilization.
This call of his caused fierce controversy in society. “The meeting participants concluded to create the list of Tajikistanis participating in the Russia-Ukraine war like the list of Tajikistanis who left for Syria and Iraq. They said it is necessary to institute criminal proceedings against such persons for participation in wars in of foreign countries,” one of Radio Ozodi’s source, who wanted to remain unnamed, said.
At the same time, he said persons having Russian or Ukrainian citizenship will not be persecuted.
According to Radio Ozodi, relatives of two Tajiks, who were jailed in Russia and participated in the war in Ukraine, have been summoned to the State Committee for National Security (SCNS)’s office in Khatlon province for questioning. They say security officers have asked them for information about their relatives participating in the war in Ukraine.
Recall, the BBC reported in September last year that the head of Russia’s shadowy Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, has appeared in leaked footage attempting to recruit prisoners to fight in Ukraine. Mr. Prigozhin reportedly told prisoners their sentences would be commuted in exchange for service with his group. While Russian law does not allow commutation of prison sentences in exchange for mercenary service, Mr. Prigozhin insisted that “nobody goes back behind bars” if they serve with his group, according to the BBC.
Radio Ozodi noted in February that to-date, it has found information about ten Russia pardoned Tajik prisoners killed in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Tajikistan’s legislation stipulates that the participation of a mercenary in armed conflicts or battle operations is punishable by imprisonment for a period of 12 to 20 years.
