One demonstrator killed, three injured in Khorog

As a result of a clash with law enforcement on May 17, a resident of the region was killed, and three law enforcement officers were injured, reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs press service.

Photo: Internet

The Ministry of Internal Affairs press service notes that a “group of uninformed youths” from Khorog, under the “instruction” of Mamadbokirov Mamadbokir and “under the leadership of Nazrishoev Zamir Makhtobshoevich, carried out an armed attack on the officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for GBAO, who were performing their official duties in the building of the regional court, and detonated a hand grenade.”

As a result, the first deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for GBAO, Colonel of Police Muborakshozoda Gairatsho Gulomsho, operational department officer Captain Kamishev Shukhrat Abdudzhabborovich, and special forces platoon commander Senior Lieutenant Faizullozoda Abubakr were injured and hospitalized.

“During the repulsion of the armed attack, Nazrishoev Z.M. was injured and died in the hospital,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs press service reports.

Photo: Internet

However, local residents do not believe the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement and claim that Zamir Nazrishoev was shot by law enforcement officers. According to local residents, six locals were injured by rubber bullets during the clashes.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs accuses the informal leader of GBAO, Mahmadbokir Mahmadbokirov, civil society activist Ulfathoni Makhmadshoeva, and deputy leader of the National Alliance of Tajikistan Alim Sherzamonov of destabilizing the situation in GBAO.

Photo: Internet

The Ministry of Internal Affairs states that “a criminal case has been initiated by the GBAO Prosecutor’s Office against the organizers of the incident.”

Deputy leader of the NAT Alim Sherzamonov, who lives in Europe, denied these accusations in a conversation with Azda TV.

“As a native of Badakhshan and from the same area where Muhammadbokir lives, and having been subjected to an intensive information attack and assault by security forces for the past four months, I certainly cannot remain indifferent. As a citizen, I expressed my position in support of the initiative of the residents of Badakhshan to hold these protests, but I have never been and am not an initiator or organizer.”

In a conversation with Radio Ozodi, Mahmadbokirov also called the authorities’ accusations against him baseless.

Social media users and public figures reacted to the authorities’ statement and defended Ulfathoni Makhmadshoeva, a civil society activist, rejecting the accusations against Makhmadshoeva as unfounded.

While the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan reported the injury of three law enforcement officers, it was previously reported on May 16 that six residents of Badakhshan were injured on the first day of protests.

On May 14, more than a thousand residents of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region held a protest in Khorog. The informal leader of the region, Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov, was present. Residents demanded adherence to the law, the rule of law, and the release of unlawfully detained citizens.

On May 15, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) threatened protesters in Khorog and other areas led by Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov with imprisonment from five years to life in a video address on the regional channel “TV Badakhshan” .

Law enforcement agencies of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan accused the protesters of collaborating with “terrorists” and “extremists” and stated that Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov maintains regular contacts with opposition leaders in Europe and acts on their instructions.

Videos posted on social media show that residents of GBAO held protests after the authorities refused to meet their demands. Security forces opened fire to disperse the protesters.

Currently, schools and other institutions in Khorog are closed, and the internet is disconnected.