Day: February 17, 2023

A notorious Islamic State (IS) terror group recruiter from Tajikistan, Parviz Saidrahmonov, who is also known as Abu Dovoud, was sentenced to 21 years in prison in November on terrorism charges in Dushanbe, Tajik Supreme Court officials told reporters in Dushanbe on February 16.

The 35-year-old Parviz Saidrahmonov was extradited from Turkiye to Tajikistan in September last year and sentenced on November 11 on charges of organizing a terrorist group, extremism, and recruiting mercenaries to fight in a foreign country.

Recall, trial of Parviz Saidrahmonov began in Dushanbe in late November last year.

Parviz Saidrahmonov was one of the first Central Asians to join the IS terror group in 2014 and undertake its online propaganda work as a zealous recruiter. He was a migrant worker in Russia when he left in 2014 for Iraq, where he joined the ranks of the IS terror group.

This notorious IS terror group recruiter has been linked to terrorist attacks in Sweden, Russia, and Tajikistan.

Saidrahmonov was later captured by Syrian authorities and in mid-2020 disappeared from a prison in the Syrian town of Afrin when Tajikistan was working on his extradition to Dushanbe. Turkish authorities said later they had Saidrahmonov in their custody. The Tajik authorities reportedly received the “go-ahead” of Turkiye for extradition of Saidrahmonov to Tajikistan in July last year.

A source within the law enforcement authorities of Tajikistan told Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, at the time that before that, representatives of law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan at least three times conducted negotiations with the authorities of Turkiye, but requests for the extradition of the militant remained unanswered. Extradition of Saidrahmonov reportedly became possible after a visit of Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda to Turkiye in July last year.

Tajik authorities have considered Saidrahmonov one of the most dangerous recruiters to the IS terror group, saying he managed to recruit more than 200 people to the terrorist organization.

Tajik authorities have said that about 2,000 citizens of the Central Asian nation joined the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in 2013-2015. Hundreds of them were killed in the clashes in the Middle East. Some of those who returned to Tajikistan were either sentenced to lengthy prison terms or received amnesty.

Source: Asia-Plus

Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon has confirmed the dismissal of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) Parviz Orifzoda.

“This is a work item of our office and there is no need to divulge all the details to the public,” Tajik Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon told reporters in Dushanbe on February 17.

Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reported on February 13 that Parviz Orifzoda relieved of his office of the chief prosecutor of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region on February 9. He reportedly was dismissed for insulting law enforcement officers.

“Orifzoda has been drinking a lot lately, and recently, while in a state of intoxication, he insulted police officers. Video with this scene has been sent to President’s Executive Office,” former law enforcement officer told Radio Ozodi on the basis of anonymity.

According to him, an investigation into the matter has been launched against Orifzoda.

Parviz Orifzoda graduated from the Faculty of Law at Tajik National University in

Orifzoda had served as GBAO chief prosecutor since 2018. He arrived in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region in 2017 when he was appointed chief prosecutor in Vanj district.

Source: Asia-Plus

The Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) government has written on its Facebook page that a power rationing is expected to be introduced in the region.

“Continues heavy snowfall have caused a large avalanche in Wuzh village, Shugnan district that blocked the Ghund River,” the GBAO government wrote on its Facebook page on February 17.

“This will lead to a gradual decrease in the water level at the Pamir-1 hydropower plant, and in case of necessity, power supply will be limited. Once the situation stabilizes, the restriction will be lifted,” says a statement released by the GBAO government.

According to data from the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, 44 avalanches came down in territories of Darvoz, Vanj, Rushan, Shugnan, Roshtqala and Ishkashim districts of the GBAO on February 16.

Avalanches in the GBAO, claimed at least 16 lives as of the evening of February 16. The dead reportedly are known to include one three-year-old child, three schoolchildren and seven university students.

Recall, an avalanche in Khorog claimed at least 13 lives on February 15. At least 36 buildings, including the premises of the local Afghan consulate, were damaged as well. The collapse of power lines left Khorog without electricity for around eight hours. At least nine people were pulled alive from the rubble. The rescue phase reportedly came to an end in Khorog on February 16, while the search operation is under way.

Besides, two residents of GBAO’s Vanj district were killed by avalanches the same day.

According to the Emergencies Committee, an avalanche that occurred in Gozhak village of Gharibsho Shabozov jamoat in Shugnan district on February 16 at 3:30 pm killed a 16-year-old girl, bringing the death toll from avalanches in the GBAO to 16.

Avalanche risk has led to the closure of roads from GBAO’s capital, Khorog, to Dushanbe and GBAO’s districts of Roshtqala, Ishkashim and Murgab. Work on clearing the roads of the snow is under way.

Mountains cover 93 percent of Tajikistan’s territory, and avalanches and mudslides kill dozens of people every year.

The Emergencies Committee warns that warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further avalanches in the country and advises people not to travel to mountain areas unnecessarily.

Source: Asia-Plus