The trial of a 24-year-old resident of the city of Qurghon Teppa, Ahliddin Mashrabov, began in Khatlon’s regional court on October 13. 

Proceedings started with the reading of the indictment, which charges Mashrabov with murder (Article 104 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code) and hooliganism (Article 237 (3) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code)   

As it had been reported earlier, a 40-year-old Aleksey Buyenkov, senior sergeant with the Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan, was stabbed to death at “Karina” Restaurant in Qurghon Teppa in the night of July 31 following quarrel with local resident Ahliddin Mashrabov.

“Mashrabov being in a state of drunkenness came into conflict with two Russian servicemen.  His friends tried to calm him down but Mashrabov got angry even more and inflicted stab wounds on Buyenkov and one of local residents.  They were taken to hospital, where Buyenkov died of blood loss,” Judge Faridoun Dodomatzoda told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

“Karina” Restaurant is considered one of favorite places of servicemen of the Russian base’s facility deployed in Qurghon Teppa and they usually gather there on weekends. 

About 7,000 troops from Russia’s 201st military base are stationed in Tajikistan at two different facilities -- one at the southern city of Qurghon Teppa, and one near Dushanbe.

Under an agreement signed in October 2012, Russian troops are allowed to remain stationed in Tajikistan until 2042.