Asia-Plus weekly roundup: 26 years for attack on mufti

Asia-Plus published a weekly news roundup (article dated 15 February 2025) summarising official press conferences on the outcomes of 2024. Among many items, the article reports on the knife attack on Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda (Саидмукаррам Абдулкодирзода), head of Tajikistan’s Council of Ulema. According to the article, three people were convicted in connection with the attack: the young man who directly carried out the attack was sentenced to 26 years of imprisonment (a combined term). The article quotes Rustam Mirzozoda (Рустам Мирзозода), chair of the Supreme Court, explaining at a press conference that the case was initially classified as hooliganism, but new circumstances came to light during the preliminary investigation and “an expert examination confirmed that the crime had elements of extremism”. Two other defendants in the case received 13 and 2 years respectively. The article also contains other weekly items: Dushanbe municipal authorities citing aesthetic and modern architectural standards for removing protective window bars from residential buildings; plans for two flyovers and the first bike lane; a statement from the Committee for Women and Family Affairs head Bunafsha Faiziddinzoda that early marriages remain the main cause of divorce; Health Minister Jamoliddin Abdullozoda on the suspension of USAID aid; Khujand airport at 30% capacity in 2024; Dominica visa-free access; that domestic consumers owe 40% (1.7 bn somoni) of electricity debts per “Distribution Electric Networks”; that the Ministry of Defence structures showed the biggest financial damage of 122.7 mn somoni per the Anti-Corruption Agency director; public debt at $3.6 bn (25.2% of GDP) per Finance Minister Faiziddin Kahorzoda; Prosecutor General Habibullo Vohidzoda stating 30,000 Tajik citizens were deported from Russia in 2024 after the Crocus City Hall attack; over 30 people sentenced to 8–20 years for an attempted pre-Nowruz 2024 attack in Vahdat; Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin on unresolved road and water issues on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border; Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda on further suspects sought in the Kanibadam killings; the first deputy Supreme Court chair stating that journalist Rukhshona Hakimova cannot have her sentence deferred due to the treason article. Sources cited: press conferences of the Supreme Court, Prosecutor General, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Health, Anti-Corruption Agency, Committee for Women and Family.