Asia-Plus: Authorities explain shootout at Khujand SIZO to UN Committee Against Torture

Asia-Plus, dated 17 April 2026, reports that Tajik authorities, while presenting their human-rights report to the UN Committee Against Torture, provided details on the shooting incident of 31 January 2026 at the Khujand temporary detention facility (SIZO). The article states that Umed Karimzoda (Умед Каримзода), First Deputy Prosecutor General of Tajikistan, addressed the 84th session of the Committee in Geneva on 15 April in response to member questions. Karimzoda said the incident was planned and carried out by three convicted for extremist and terrorist offences — Ghayurov, Khalilzoda and Kavrakov (Ғаюров, Халилзода, Кавраков) — whose full names were not disclosed. According to the article, Karimzoda stated they climbed onto the roof of the detention facility, blocked exits, shouted “Allahu Akbar” and threw bricks and concrete fragments at staff. The article states three staff — Dustmatov, Avazboqiev (Дӯстматов, Авазбоқиев) and others — as well as a detainee named Isoboev (Исобоев) were beaten. Despite warning shots into the air, the article states, the convicted men attacked staff attempting to reach the roof, and were “neutralised” using firearms. The article reports that investigations were opened both into the actions of the rioters and into alleged negligence by facility staff Rustamov and Boibutaev (Рустамов, Бойбутаев), against whom criminal cases had been filed and sent to court. Prosecutor General Habibullo Vohidzoda (Ҳабибулло Воҳидзода) had previously said on 13 February that the three convicted had already been serving 12-to-14-year sentences for terrorism-extremism offences and had repeatedly breached prison regulations. The article recalls earlier prison incidents: on 3 February 2024 at the “Kirpichniy” facility (No. 3/2) in Vahdat, 3 prisoners were killed and 3 guards injured; on 19 May 2019 at the same Khujand facility No. 3/3 a riot left 32 dead overall (29 prisoners); a November 2018 riot left 21 prisoners and 2 staff dead. The UN Committee Against Torture is described as a body of 10 independent experts overseeing implementation of the Convention Against Torture. The 84th session runs from 13 April to 1 May 2026. Sources cited: UN Committee Against Torture recording; earlier statements by Prosecutor General Vohidzoda and Justice Minister Muzaffar Ashurien (Музаффар Ашӯриён).