Радио Озоди: "Alovatshoev was tried on five articles" — relatives of the GBAO youth activist demand review of the sentence

Radio Ozodi / Azattyq Asia report by Mirzonabi Kholikzod (Мирзонаби Холикзод), published 6 May 2022, states that relatives of convicted Pamiri youth activist Amriddin Alovatshoev (Амриддин Аловатшоев) are demanding a review of his 29 April 2022 sentence of 18 years in a colony. Brother Bakhtiyor Alovatshoev (Бахтиёр Аловатшоев) is reported on 5 May to have filed a cassation appeal to the GBAO regional court.

The article reports the trial was held in closed session inside Dushanbe’s pre-trial detention facility SIZO No. 1, presided over by a judge from the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. According to Radio Ozodi, a criminal case had been opened against Alovatshoev on five articles of the Criminal Code: hostage-taking (Art. 181 §2), seizure of buildings by an organised group (Art. 182 §3), organising a criminal community (Art. 187), inciting social, racial, national, regional or religious hatred (Art. 189) and organising an extremist community (Art. 302, Appendix 2).

The article reports the charges stem in part from a 2018 incident at the office of then-head of GBAO hukumat Shodikhon Jamshed (Шодихон Джамшед), cited by informal leader Tolib Ayombekov (Толиб Аёмбеков), and from a 28 November 2021 Facebook post in a Pamiri language attributed to “Амриддин Аловатов.” It also reports charges linked to the November 2021 hostage-holding in Anjim (Анджим) and Barjangal (Барджангал) of deputy prosecutor A. Abirzoda (А. Абирзода) alongside Gulbiddin Ziyobekov (Гулбиддин Зиёбеков).

Named relatives/lawyers: Anzor Bozorov (Анзор Бозоров), Mokhiolam Nabieva (Мохиолам Набиева), Kodirshoh Alibekov (Кодиршох Алибеков), Shukrona Nuriddinova (Шукрона Нуриддинова); lawyers Navruzshoh Nazarov (Наврузшох Назаров) and Zayniddin Khayriddinov (Зайниддин Хайриддинов); wife Sofia Munimshoeva (София Мунимшоева). Faromuz Irgashev (Фаромуз Иргашев) of “Commission 44” is cited on plans to petition the UN OHCHR Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Prosecutor General Yusuf Rakhmon (Юсуф Рахмон) and Minister of Internal Affairs Ramazon Rakhimzoda (Рамазон Рахимзода) gave differing accounts (extradition versus voluntary return) of Alovatshoev’s transfer from Belgorod on 11 January. Former Roshtkala land-committee head Osmon Alidodov (Осмон Алидодов) was reportedly sentenced to 8 years over the sale of the plot on which Alovatshoev’s house was built and demolished.