Вечёрка: Гособвинитель запросил 20-30 лет госпереворот

The article, published by Dushanbe-based Вечёрка (Vecherka) on 9 January 2025 and citing sources at Азия-Плюс (Asia-Plus) and Радио Озоди (Radio Ozodi), reports on prosecution sentencing requests in the so-called “coup case” in Tajikistan. At a court session on 8 January, article reports, the state prosecutor requested prison terms ranging from 20 to 30 years for all defendants. According to two anonymous Asia-Plus sources cited in the article, the prosecutor sought: 30 years for Саиджафар Усмонзода (Saidjafar Usmonzoda), MP and former chair of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan; 30 years for Хамрохон Зарифи (Hamrohon Zarifi), former foreign minister; 23 years for Акбаршох Искандаров (Akbarshoh Iskandarov), former chair of the Supreme Council; 23 years for Абдулфайз Атои (Abdulfayz Atoi), former head of an MFA department; 23 years for Ахмадшох Комилзода (Ahmadshoh Komilzoda), former deputy chair of the Democratic Party; and 20 years for Шокирджон Хакимов (Shokirjon Khakimov), lawyer and deputy chair of the Social Democratic Party. Article reports, citing Radio Ozodi, that the prosecutor also sought 26 years for two retired GKNB colonels, Нурамин Ганизода (Nuramin Ganizoda) and Джамшед Боев (Jamshed Boev). The article states authorities have issued no official comment, and defendants, relatives and lawyers have refrained from public statements, though most defendants previously rejected the coup charges. Arrests began in June 2024 after the detention of Usmonzoda; Prosecutor General Юсуф Рахмон (Yusuf Rakhmon) announced charges under Article 306 (violent seizure of power). The first court session took place 14 November 2024, held behind closed doors at the Dushanbe SIZO. Charges cited include Articles 305 (treason), 306 (seizure of power), 247 (fraud) and 189 (incitement of hatred) of the Tajik Criminal Code. Sources cited: Azia-Plus, Radio Ozodi.