What happened in the Vahdat colony?

The Main Department for the Execution of Criminal Sentences of the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan claims that three inmates died as a result of a riot in one of the colonies in the city of Vahdat. However, Azda.TV has obtained the names of seven deceased inmates.

According to the Public Relations Center of the Main Department for the Execution of Criminal Sentences of the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan, on February 3, 2025, at 15:44, a group of 9 inmates from correctional facility No. 3/2 of the Main Department attacked prison guards using homemade stabbing and cutting weapons. As a result, three prison staff members sustained serious injuries, and three inmates were killed.

Radio Ozodi, citing its sources, reports that the newly appointed director of the colony in Vahdat and his deputy sustained serious injuries.

The Main Department for the Execution of Criminal Sentences of the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan asserts that the guards acted in accordance with the law and service instructions and were forced to use firearms against the criminals. As a result, three criminals were neutralized, and the others were detained, according to the statement.

Earlier, the Civil Committee for the Protection of Political Prisoners and Detainees in Tajikistan reported that as a result of the inmates’ riot in one of the colonies in the city of Vahdat, 10 inmates died, and dozens of inmates and 4 prison staff members were injured.

Currently, Azda TV has obtained photographs and names of seven inmates who were reportedly killed during the “riot” in the colony in the city of Vahdat. Three of them had less than 2 years left on their sentences. According to information received by Azda TV, the authorities did not hand over the bodies of the deceased to their relatives; all were secretly buried at night.

The names of the deceased inmates, as obtained by Azda TV:

• Khasanov Sukhrob Safarmadovich, born 09.02.1991, sentenced to 14 years in prison (sentence issued on 31.10.2018, release date 31.10.2032);
• Khasanov Djamolidin Kamoliddinovich, born 07.03.1986, sentenced to 7.6 years in prison (sentence issued on 17.05.2019, release date 17.11.2026);
• Tilabov Ali Tilabovich, born 10.07.1993, sentenced to 14 years in prison (sentence issued on 10.07.2021, release date 10.07.2035);
• Oruzev Shakhzod Dzhamshedovich, born 21.05.2001, sentenced to 19 years in prison (sentence issued on 27.05.2021, release date 27.05.2040);
• Burchonov Shukhrat Mukhamadievich, born 25.09.1984, sentenced to 12.5 years in prison (sentence issued on 12.02.2013, release date 12.08.2025);
• Dzhuraev Makhmadsharif Bobomurodovich, born 14.07.1984, sentenced to 13 years in prison (sentence issued on 08.01.2023, release date 01.08.2036);
• Davlatov Farhod Saymakhmadovich, born 07.03.1988, sentenced to 2 years in prison (sentence date 02.09.2024, release date 02.09.2026).

Photo: Internet

It is still unknown why the country’s Ministry of Justice is concealing the number of casualties and has not yet disclosed their names. Although more than a day has passed since the incident, law enforcement agencies have not commented on it. It is unclear whether the prisoners died as a result of the riot, or if there was even a riot at all.

This is not the first case of conflicts arising in Tajik prisons, particularly in the prison in the city of Vahdat, which raise questions and result in prisoner fatalities.

Earlier, on the night of November 8, a riot occurred among prisoners in the strict regime prison 3/3 in the city of Khujand. During the riot, 23 people died, including two prison staff members, and dozens of prisoners were injured. Authorities stated that the riot was organized by convicted supporters of the terrorist group “Islamic State” with the aim of escape.

Also, in May 2019, as a result of a riot in the Vahdat prison, 32 people died, including three prison guards and 29 prisoners. Among the deceased were Karimov Abdusatttor, known as Mahdumi Sattor, Said Kiyomidin Gozi, and Saidmakhdikhon Sattorov, known as Sheikh Temur. At that time, authorities claimed that the riot was organized by supporters of the “Islamic State” led by Bekhruz Gulmurod, the son of former commander of the Tajik OMON Gulmurod Halimov, who joined ISIS in Syria.

Experts doubt that these riots were organized by supporters of the “Islamic State,” noting that they may have been orchestrated by the authorities to achieve certain goals.