A resident of the Darvaz neighborhood sentenced to 5.5 years in prison

The Ismoili Somoni District Court in Dushanbe has sentenced 24-year-old Rajabali Davlatov, a resident of the capital’s Darvaz neighborhood, to 5.5 years in prison on charges of extremism.

His relatives informed Radio Ozodi that they do not have sufficient information about the details of the case or the exact reasons for his conviction.

According to family members, the court hearing took place in early August of this year, but they were not allowed to attend. Law enforcement and judicial authorities have yet to release official information regarding the details of the case, the reasons for the charges, and the specific articles of the Criminal Code under which he was sentenced.

Davlatov previously lived and worked in Russia. His relatives report that he was deported from St. Petersburg to Tajikistan. Upon his return, he was interrogated by law enforcement and subsequently released. However, about five months later, he was detained again.

One of his relatives stated that the neighborhood chairman reported information about Davlatov to the authorities, which led to his second arrest.

Since the second detention, family members say they have been unable to contact or see him.

Another source of uncertainty for Davlatov’s family is the information they received regarding his connection to the mother of Parviz Zoirov. According to relatives, they were informed that Davlatov had assisted Zoirov. However, it remains unclear what this assistance entailed and how it relates to the criminal case.

Zoirov is also a resident of the same Darvaz neighborhood. He was deported from France to Tajikistan in October of last year, where he was subsequently sentenced to 13 years in prison.

At the time of publication, it is unknown how Rajabali Davlatov responded to the charges against him or whether he admitted his guilt.

Davlatov’s conviction comes amid a series of arrests of residents from this neighborhood. Over the past two years, Darvaz has gained notoriety in media reports due to a number of criminal cases involving charges of extremism, membership in banned organizations, and incitement of religious discord. Several relatives of other previously detained individuals have rejected all charges against them.

Davlatov was the only son in his family. His father and mother passed away several years ago.