The Prosecutor General’s Office of Tajikistan published some details on the case of the Tajik political prisoner Gurbatov Avazmad Umaralievich, better known by his pseudonym Abdullo Gurbati.
Below there is the Statement of the Press Center of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Tajikistan dated November 3, 2022, translated from Tajik into English. According to this statement, Gurbati was found guilty on charges of terrorism, extremism and assaulting a police officer.
The Statement of the Press Center of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Tajikistan:
Terrorism, extremism and the use of violence against a representative of the authorities!
Citizen Gurbatov Avazmad Umaralievich, born on August 1, 1996, Tajik nationality, holder of university degree, reporter for Asia-Plus news agency, married, has a child, no previous convictions, native of city of Kulyab, Khatlon region, temporarily residing in Dushanbe, Firdavsi district, N. Karaboev street 9/1, house 106, opened an account on Facebook under the name of Abdullo Gurbati and went online using a Redmi Note 9 mobile phone.
During 2021 to 2022 Gurbatov A.U. published several open and veiled articles and publications on Facebook, where the ongoing policy of the State and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan was systematically discredited, and there were signs of extremist activity in such actions of Gurbatov A.U. In one of the abovementioned articles, he stated: “If this people had a master, if this state had a law, if this government had a minister, then the Tajik youth would not prefer to throw themselves out of the window instead of serving their people!!! Or they would not send the Tajik youth to the service of the Homeland by deceit and lies. Now you can insult me as much as you like: “I do not believe in your Paradise on Earth. I do not believe in any national idea, in any minister or leader. Not only national pride, but the nation itself is in under great question”. Same as this publication, A.U. Gurbatov published several other articles and posts.
Also Gurbatov A.U. through his pseudonym Abdullo Gurbati, secretly, in order to protect his extremist activities with veiled means, as if he was engaged in journalist activities and cared about the problems of society, on November 13, 2019, he subscribed to Azda TV Youtube channel on Internet, which is connected with the extremist and terrorist organizations – the National Alliance and the Islamic Renaissance Party, followed its videos and used them to color his programs.
Also, on June 15, 2022, Gurbatov A.U. was summoned to the Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs in Shohmansur district of Dushanbe, in connection with the criminal case against Bobiev Daler Imomalievich for interrogation as a witness. At about 19:30, when leaving the police station building of Shohmansur district, inside the checkpoint, he met the police officer, Major Murodov D.J., head of the Division No. 7 of the Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs in Shohmansur district of Dushanbe, and knowing that the mentioned person was on duty, out of hatred for Murodov D.J., expressed obscene language and insulted him in the presence of other citizens.
Gurbatov A.U., continuing his criminal actions, not calming down with insults and obscene words addressed to the police officer, Major Murodov D.J., head of the Division No. 7 of the Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs in Shohmansur district of Dushanbe, knowing that the mentioned person was on duty, inside the checkpoint of the police station, with the use of force, tore off the left shoulder badge and four buttons from Murodov D.J. police uniform and punched him in the neck in the presence of other citizens.
The Prosecutor of Shohmansur district of city of Dushanbe initiated a criminal investigation against Gurbatov A.U. on the basis of Article 307, part 3, part 2, Article 330, part 1, Article 328, part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan, and after the completion of the preliminary investigation, the case was sent to court.
On October 4, 2022, Shohmansur District Court of Dushanbe sentenced Gurbatov A.U. to 7 years and 6 months in a maximum security prison.