After the May events in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), the so-called cleansing of Khorog from “too active” members of civil society or relatives of “leaders of criminal groups” continues.
On August 4, the Court of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) of Tajikistan sentenced Muzaffar Davlatmirov, a clergyman of the mahalla “Tirchid” in Khorog, to 5 years in prison. He was found guilty under article 307 “Public calls for extremist activity” of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan.
According to the relatives of the convict, the trial was short-lived and no evidence of the guilt of 58-year-old Davlatmirov was presented in court.
A week ago, the clergyman was invited “for a conversation” with the local security agencies and no one saw him again. What exactly he is charged with is unknown. People who know Davlatmirov claim that they know him as a “fighter for justice,” and in his sermons, he always called parishioners to peace, and sometimes allowed himself to criticize the actions of the authorities.
He also held a funeral prayer for the local informal leaders Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov, Zoir Radjabov, and Khursand Mazoriev, who were killed in the recent events in GBAO, which, according to his entourage, was the reason for Davlatmirov’s detention.
In June, members of the public “Commission 44”, created in Badakhshan to resolve the situation after the November unrest in Khorog, were detained – among them the well-known lawyer and human rights activist Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov, lawyer Faromuz Irgashev, civil activist Muzaffar Muborakshoev, Khursand Mamadshoev, brother of the arrested journalist Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva and other.
At the end of June, two members of “Commission 44” – Khujamri Pirnazarov and Shaftol Bekdavlatov were sentenced to 18 years in prison for “organizing an unauthorized rally.”
In July, local poet and videographer Muyassar Sadonshoev was sentenced to 11 years in prison for collaborating with the “Commission 44” – he was found guilty of treason.
Later, Muslim Sherzamonov, brother of opposition politician Alim Sherzamonov, was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was called “a member of a criminal group.”
A prison term of 6 years was also given to social media activist Shodruz Akhrorov, who was arrested after being deported from Russia and found guilty of “calling for extremism via the Internet.”
