The number of fatalities in Khorog has reached three

The number of fatalities from the recent unrest in Khorog has reached three, with two other injured individuals in critical condition.

Photo: Internet

On the night of November 25, local resident Gulbiddin Ziyobekov was shot dead by law enforcement officers in his own home in the Roshtkala district, triggering a wave of protests in the region and beyond.

During the protests, instead of addressing the residents’ concerns, law enforcement opened fire on the demonstrators, resulting in at least one death, Tutisho Amirshoev, and Gulnazar Murodbekov along with 14 others were injured. This morning, Gulnazar Murodbekov also died. Thus, the death toll has reached three.

Last night, a large group of Tajiks, particularly those from GBAO, staged a protest outside the Tajikistan embassy in Moscow. They urged the embassy to convey their demands to the government, calling for the restoration of internet and communication with the region, as well as the arrest and punishment of those responsible.

According to an Azda TV source from Khorog, on the night of November 24-25, Gulbiddin Ziyobekov, a resident of the Roshtkala district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, was shot in the head by prosecutors in his own home.

However, the press center of the GBAO prosecutor’s office stated in its announcement that Ziyobekov was wanted, had armed resistance during his arrest, and was detained. Authorities have not commented on his death.

“Ziyobekov and several other young men took assistant prosecutor A. Amirzoda hostage on February 1, 2020, and tortured and beat him for eight hours in the villages of Andzhim and Bardzhanhal. Criminal cases were initiated against Ziyobekov G. Z. and his accomplices by the GBAO prosecutor’s office in connection with this case. However, Ziyobekov and his accomplices did not appear for questioning regarding the assault on the prosecutor’s employee, despite multiple summons from the investigative authorities. Gulbiddin Ziyobekov was declared wanted,” the press center of the GBAO prosecutor’s office reported.

An Azda TV source from the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region rejected the authorities’ accusations and stated that the authorities aim to subjugate the region’s residents using violence and fabricated criminal cases.