Wikipedia (RU): Suhrob Zafar — leader of Group 24

The Russian-language Wikipedia article “Сухроб Зафар” covers the Tajik political activist Suhrob Zafar (Сухроб Зафар, real name Suhrob Tabarov / Сухроб Табаров), born 24 November 1978, who leads the opposition movement “Group 24” (Группа 24). The article reports that Zafar assumed leadership of the movement after the assassination of its founder Umarali Kuvvatov (Умарали Кувватов) in Istanbul on 5 March 2015, with interim leadership initially held by Sharofiddin Gadoev (Шарофиддин Гадоев) before transferring to Zafar in August 2015; it reports Zafar was re-elected leader on 3 January 2020 with over 55% of votes against Nuriddin Rizoi (44%). According to the article, Zafar is a nephew of general Gaffor Mirzoev (Гаффор Мирзоев), who was given a life sentence in Tajikistan in 2006. The article reports that Zafar moved to Turkey in October 2014 and that in 2014 he was arrested in Turkey together with Kuvvatov and other Group 24 members but released, with Turkish authorities refusing to extradite them to Tajikistan citing the political nature of the charges. The article reports that on 19 March 2018 Zafar and Nasimjon Sharipov (Насимджон Шарипов) were again arrested in Istanbul at Tajikistan’s request; Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee are reported to have voiced concern about possible deportation, citing risks of torture and political persecution. The article reports that on the morning of 10 March 2024 Zafar stopped answering contact, with Group 24 activists stating he may have been abducted by Tajik authorities for deportation; it reports this was the second disappearance of a Group 24 member in Turkey that month, after 39-year-old Nasimjon Sharifov disappeared in Stambul in February. Sources cited: Ahbor, Human Rights Watch, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Current Time, Radio Ozodi, Bomdod, Group 24 official site guruhi24.net, National Bank of Tajikistan terrorism list.