DUSHANBE, June 14, 2016, Asia-Plus – The Supreme Court of Tajikistan has sentenced two associates of the former deputy defense minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda (Hoji Halim) to life imprisonment while several others have received lengthy jail terms, according to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service .
The trail was held behind closed doors.
Relatives of the convicts told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service that the court had delivered life sentences to Sadriddin Nematov and Siroj Odinayev.
Several other associates of Nazarzoda received lengthy jail terms. Thus, Amrullo Nourov was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
The trial concluded last week.
Tojnews agency reports that in all, nine associates of Abduhalim Nazarzoda were convicted last week.
We will recall that former deputy defense minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda and a group of gunmen under his control launched a predawn attack on the main police station in the Vahdat Township east of the Tajik capital on September 4, 2015 and clashed later that day with security forces at a Defense Ministry building not far from the Dushanbe International Airport. Nine police officers were killed and six others were wounded in those attacks.
Nazarzoda, his associate Colonel Junaidulloh Umarov, and several other gunmen then fled to the Romit Gorge, adjacent to Vahdat, where security forces were targeting them in a large-scale manhunt.
Abduhalim Nazarzoda was killed along with 10 of his supporters during a battle in Romit on September 16. His associate Colonel Junaidulloh Umarov was also killed.
In all, 25 members of Hoji Halim’s group were killed and 125 others arrested during the operation in Romit.
Abduhalim Nazarzoda, 51, had served as deputy defense minister since January 2014. He joined the security forces in June 1997 when the government and the opposition signed a peace accord to end the five-year civil war.
Uzbekistan will supply more than 900 million liters of water to Kazakhstan during the irrigation season
Baby can’t wait: Dushanbe woman delivers baby in cab while en route to maternity hospital
Russian president Vladimir Putin replaces defense minister in Cabinet shakeup
Tajikistan, China vow to boost economic cooperation
Tajikistan, U.S. sign MoU on cooperation between Tajik Prosecutor-General’s Office and US Department on introduction of PISCES
DPT’s leader replaced
Emomali Rahmon holds talks with his Russian counterpart in Moscow to discuss cooperation
Tajik leader participates in events dedicated to 79th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany
Congratulations on Vicotry Day
The world's most popular sport now has its own day for fans to celebrate — May 25
All news