At the pretrial detention center in Dushanbe, during another court session on January 22, prominent figures involved in the "coup attempt case" delivered their "final statements" before the verdict was announced.
Two sources familiar with the case claim that the defendants did not admit guilt, reports Asiaplus.tj.
According to the sources, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Hamrokhon Zarifi, stated that after retiring, he fully dedicated himself to science and withdrew from politics.
"In support of his words, he presented several scientific articles and books he authored, refuted the accusations against him, and requested his release. Shokirjon Hakimov, a renowned lawyer, also denied all charges against him, declaring that he is a 'true patriot who dedicated his life to solving the country's and the nation's problems,'" the sources said.
All the defendants who delivered their final statements in court asked for their release.
The defendants include: a Member of Parliament and former leader of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan, Saidjafar Usmonzoda; his first deputy, Ahmadshoh Komilzoda; former Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi; former head of a department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdulfaiz Atoi; lawyer and first deputy head of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, Shokirjon Hakimov; former Chairman of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan, Akbarshoh Iskandarov; retired security officials Nuramin Ganizoda and Jamshed Boboev.
The main charges against them include treason and an attempt to seize power.
Meanwhile, according to Radio "Ozodi" (Tajik service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), the prosecutor demanded a 17-year prison sentence for journalist Rukhshona Hakimova, who is the niece of Shokirjon Hakimov.
Authorities suspect her of treason under Article 305 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan.
Rukhshona Hakimova and her lawyer were unavailable for comment.
A source close to the investigation previously told "Ozodi" that Hakimova's case is connected to an investigation into "China's influence in Tajikistan."
However, the source could not confirm whether Hakimova's case is directly linked to the "coup attempt case."
According to "Ozodi," Hakimova was not placed in pretrial detention due to having an infant child, but her passport was confiscated, and she was released under a travel ban.
The 31-year-old Hakimova is a graduate of the journalism faculty at the National University of Tajikistan. She worked at the Center for Investigative Journalism and other media organizations. She has two children.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 23, 2025