DUSHANBE, June 6, 2014, Asia-Plus – The Main Border Guard Directorate of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) has reportedly committed to pay for medical treatment of soldier Shahbol Mirzoyev, who was severely beaten by medic Usmon Ghayratov, and provide compensation for detriment caused to his health.
According to website of the NGO Coalition against Torture in Tajikistan, Commander of Tajik Border Troops Rajabali Rahmon noted this in reply letter to Mirzoyev’s defense lawyer, Abdurahmon Sharipov.
We will recall that NGO Coalition against Torture in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as well as a number of international human rights organizations released an open letter to the Tajik border troops commander on May 29, 2014.
The letter, in particular, notes that the number of cases involving hazing, torture and ill-treatment of Border Guards personnel has increased over the last few months. “Since the beginning of the year 2014 we have learnt of 4 such cases. Three of the known cases have resulted in deaths of victims. These tragic incidents have made us increasingly concerned about the fate of young conscripts,” the letter says.
The human rights activists urged the Tajik border troops commander to take the following steps: declare publicly that it is inacceptable for military personnel to subject recruits to hazing and ill-treatment and that anyone carrying out and/or abetting such crimes will be brought to justice; ensure that Shahbol Mirzoyev and other victims of hazing are adequately compensated to secure their health and rehabilitation; ensure that prompt, thorough and independent investigations are carried out into all allegations of hazing and ill-treatment among border guards and bring to justice the perpetrators as well as any senior military personnel that supported or tolerated such violence; ensure that international human rights standards are included in the training of soldiers as well as in further qualification of officers; and ensure that human rights activists are given access to military units and soldiers, in particular to conscripts.
A court of the Dushanbe military garrison has begun consideration of criminal proceedings instituted against medic of military unit 2026 of Tajik Border Troops deployed in the Roudaki district, Usmon Ghayratov.
Ghayratov severely beat soldier Shahbol Mirzoyev on March 6 in the presence of other servicemen. He is charged with misuse of powers and violation of army regulations.
Besides, criminal proceedings have been instituted against medic Gulraftor Shirinova; she faces charge of negligence.”
The hearing over this case will continue on June 9.
Shahbol Mirzoyev, who is a victim of hazing, returned home on May 19 after undergoing surgery and three weeks of medical treatment in a military hospital in Krasnogorsk, Moscow oblast. He suffered severe spinal injuries and became paralyzed as the result of bullying in March.
