Bomdod: Russia's Interior Ministry places nearly 7,000 Tajik citizens on federal wanted list

Bomdod reports on 7 March 2024 that according to open data on the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) federal wanted-list website, as of early February 2024 there were 99,752 people sought on criminal cases and 41,535 on a separate missing-persons list. The article reports that Mediazona analysed the database and found over 31,000 Russians, over 11,000 Armenians, 10,473 Uzbekistan-born persons, with 6,585 Tajikistan-born persons in fourth place. Bomdod reports that its own check found the number of Tajik citizens is in fact higher because dozens more appear without country of origin indicated. According to the article, most of the approximately 7,000 sought Tajiks are wanted for criminal offences (theft, fraud, murder and others), but dozens of Tajik opposition activists, civil society figures and journalists who consider their prosecution politically motivated are also on the list. The article names opposition leader Muhiddin Kabiri (Мухиддин Кабири) and at least ten relatives including brothers Yakosha and Mahmadsoleh Kabirov (Якоша и Махмадсолех Кабировы), sister Bibisoro (Бибисоро), children Muhammad and Ruhullo Tillozoda (Мухаммад и Рухулло Тиллозода), and nephews. Named journalists include Rustam Joniev (Рустам Джониев), Anora Sarkorova (Анора Саркорова), Shukhrati Rakhmatullo (Шухрати Рахматулло), Temur Klychev/Varki (Темур Клычев). Named activists include human-rights defender Shabnam Khudoydodova (Шабнам Худойдодова), Saidyunusi Istaravshani (with family), Alim Sherzamonov, Bobojon Kayumov, Mahmudjon Fayzrakhmonov, Sharofiddin Gadoev (Шарофиддин Гадоев), Muhammadiqbol Sadriddin, Behruz Tagoyzoda, Husein Ashurov (Хусейн Ашуров). The article reports a Tajik law-enforcement source citing the 1993 Minsk Convention as the basis for near-automatic CIS-wide wanted-list entries and states that Interpol has become cautious with Tajik requests under article 307, leading authorities to reframe charges as fraud. Sources cited: MVD RF wanted-list site; Mediazona; an anonymous Tajik law-enforcement source; Bomdod’s own investigation.