Times of Central Asia: More high profile detentions in Tajikistan's alleged coup case

The report, published by The Times of Central Asia on 4 November 2024, states that two more people have been detained in Tajikistan as part of an alleged coup attempt case involving prominent figures, citing an anonymous source quoted by Radio Ozodi. According to the report, the detainees include former GKNB (State Committee on National Security) officers Nuramin Ganizoda and Jamshed Boyev. The report describes Ganizoda as a retired colonel who was formerly an aide to former Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and briefly worked in Tajikistan’s Audit Chamber, and Boyev as a retired captain who holds Russian citizenship and receives a pension there. According to the report, both were detained in June, shortly after Zarifi’s arrest. The report states that Saidjafar Usmonzoda, former chairman of the Democratic Party and ex-member of parliament, has been detained in this case since June. Others named in the report as involved are Akbarsho Iskandarov, former chairman of Tajikistan’s Supreme Soviet; Ahmadshokh Komilzoda, a journalist and deputy chairman of the Democratic Party; Hamrokhon Zarifi; Shokirjon Hakimov, first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party; and Abdulfayz Atoi, former spokesperson for the Tajik Foreign Ministry. According to the report, the detainees face charges of attempted forcible seizure of power and incitement of inter-ethnic hatred. The report notes that in August Prosecutor General Yusuf Rakhmon said several other people were under investigation without revealing their names, and that the case was initially scheduled to go to the Supreme Court in September but was returned for further investigation; the case has been classified and no official comments have been provided.