More people arrested under Vahdat Riot case in Tajikistan

Head of the Ground Troops Department of Tajikistan’s Defense Ministry, Colonel Nazar Safarov has been arrested.

According to a source from the Tajik police, Safarov was one of the assistants to General Abduhalim Nazarzoda, former Deputy Defense Minister, reportedly killed in a clash with the police.

“Safarov was aware that Nazarzoda was organizing a mutiny and was actively assisting him,” the source says.

On Sept 24, the Tajik state TV companies reported that the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan was plotting a number of terrorist acts and was the driver of Nazarzoda’s munity. While stifling the riot, the Tajik law enforcers killed 25 and arrested 120 rebels. The police also sustained losses but the authorities do not give details.

The Supreme Court has proclaimed the Islamic Renaissance Party as a terrorist organization and has banned its activities in the country.