Bucha in the Tajik Rushan. How Rahmon shot Pamirtsev, protesting against the arbitrariness of the authorities

Twenty -five years ago, in June 1997, an agreement on national reconciliation was signed in Tajikistan. It was then that the bloody civil war of 1992-1997 formally ended. The day before, the forces fighting with each other agreed on the coalition and agreed on the democratic development of the state and society. However, the former state farm chairman Emomali Rahmon, who rose at the head of the country almost immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union and soon elected by the president, headed for the full usurpation of power, eliminating political competitors and the destruction of civil activity (more details in the viewing article from 2019 on the results of the twenty -five -year -old rule of Rahmon).

Today, the Tajik power system is one of the most authoritarian and non -proceeding in Central Asia. Democracy did not happen, everyone is controlled by the president and clan of his close associates. Moreover, soon the form of government-still formally presidential parliamentary, but in fact the monarchist- can become dynasty, as in medieval khanates and emirates.

The bloody Pamir Spring Twenty -second marks the final phase of Tajikistan's “cleansing” from any still remaining Front. And, perhaps, this is the main condition for the trouble -free transfer of power by inheritance.

All objectionable - "terrorists"

From the very beginning of his reign, Rahmon began to consistently get rid of his opponents. They became not only situational opponents or obvious antagonists who can shake the model of the power vertical, but also its recent supporters. Even those whom he relied during the Civil War fell into disgrace.

In 2004, one of the first, General Gaffor Mirzoev was captured , nicknamed the "gray-haired". He was a subordinate to Rahmon, the commander of his most trusted guard, and then - the head of the drug control agency. He was accused of murders and dozens of other crimes. Now Mirzoev, who was convicted in 2006 closed to the press by the court, is serving a lifelong conclusion without the right to pardon.

Then, during the so -called “special operations”, and in fact, large -scale military operations, the power structures of Tajikistan destroyed all former field commanders of the civil war. Not only irreconcilable leaders were killed (like Negmat Azizov and Mullo Abdullo), but also those who became officials and functionaries (for example, the head of the Ministry of Emergencies of the country Mirzo Zieev or Major General Abdukhalim Nazarzoda).

In the 2014-2015, Rakhmon defeated the only legal Muslim organization in the post-Soviet space-the Party of the Islamic Renaissance of Tajikistan (PIVT). In recent years, its political activity has almost calmed down and consisted only in timid criticism of the irremovability of power. More than 1000 members of the PIVT were arrested and condemned. Hundreds of people went on the run, some of them managed to hide in exile.

Meanwhile, the Tajik State Spopaganda, with the filing of the authorities, standardly declared many opponents of Rahmon to “anti -government rebels”, “terrorists” and “civic warfare”. And subsequent courts attended these charges at duty, not bothering themselves with the collection of actual evidence.

The Tajik State Propaganda declared Rahmon's opponents “anti -government rebels”, “terrorists” and “civilian -enjoyed warfare”

The viability of the evidence base is indicated at least that in the official list of persons “involved in terrorism”, numbering almost two and a half thousand people, there is Muhiddin Cabirie - the leader of the PIVT, who received political asylum in Europe.

The announcement of dissatisfied with "terrorists" is the tradition of many post -Soviet rulers. The first president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, called the “act of terrorism” a peaceful action of protest in Andijan in 2005, ending with massacre. Under Nazarbayev, the terror, which ended in the execution on the square in Zhanaozen, has turnedlong shares of Kazakhstan’s workers-nuns in 2011. Even the Almaty pogroms of January 2022, with the presentation of the new leader of the country of Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, are called "terrorist sorties" and "attempt to destabilize from the outside." However, no significant evidence of the presence of “twenty thousand militants” was given.

Proud Badakhshan

The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan (GBAO) is the largest in the territory and almost the smallest in the population. This alpine district is connected to the rest of the country only with a dirt road, almost the same as a hundred years ago. If in Soviet times aircraft from Dushanbe to the capital of GBAO of the city of Khorog flew several times a day, then in recent years there are almost no regular flights.

Residents of GBAO are traditionally wounded by the attitude of the official Dushanbe. After all, Mountain Badakhshan is the poorest, socially unprotected and problematic area of ​​Tajikistan.

The Pamirs differ from other Tajiks with language and religion. The Tajik Continent speaks the West Iranian dialect, and on the Pamir Ostrovka-in the twelve languages ​​of the East Iranian group. Most of the indigenous people of Badakhshan are the Ismailis (followers of Shiism), while in other areas of Tajikistan, mainly Sunnis live.

The collapse of the USSR prompted Pamirtsev to dreams of state autonomy. In Khorog, the party and the national movement “Lali Badakhshan” (“Gemstick of Badakhshan” arose). The party participated in the civil war as part of the United Tajik opposition. However, soon after the end of the clashes, the party ceased its activities.

Despite the fact that nothing came out with real separatism, the emergence of Lali Badakhshan influenced the situation in Badakhshan. According to the researcher and expert in the region, the professor of political science from the USA Eric McGlinchi, "although" Lali Badakhshan "and did not achieve independence for GBAO, the Tajik government left the region under the control of local authorities."

Former Pamir field commanders have turned into district authorities, civil servants, farmers and smugglers. And with Dushanbe they had an unspoken agreement on mutual respect and division of powers.

This situation remained until May 2008, when, on the eve of the visit of Rahmon, troops from the center were introduced into Khorog. After long negotiations with the authorities, the three -day rally ended with new agreements between security forces and local informal leaders.

The first special operation in 2012

Unlike other cities of Tajikistan, whose inhabitants have long forgotten how to rally, Khorog every now and then became a place of protest. However, they were local in nature and did not lead to a serious confrontation between local Varlolands and the center. Nevertheless, the world on Pamir was fragile.

On July 21, 2012, the head of the local department of the State Committee of National Security (GKNB) Abdullo Nazarov was killed in the Ishkashki district of GBAO. And three days later, a special operation began in the region, more similar to an intimidation action than to detain a group of suspects in the murder of special services general.

In Mountain Badakhshan, all types of communication were instantly turned off. Khorog began to bomb and shell, without even evacuating civilians. According to the BBC, during the battles more than 100 military were killed and there were even more victims among the civilians. ” However, according to official figures, only 42 people died in Khorog.

The guilt for the murder of Nazarov was assigned to the illegal armed formation, which was headed by the deputy chief of the Ishkashki border detachment Tolib Ayembekov. According to the authorities, the group for a long time was engaged in drug smuggling and was involved in other serious crimes.

The official version was confirmed by independent experts. The journalist and specialist in the region Arkady Dubnov on the air of Freedom said that “it was through Badakhshan that the main drug traffic from Afghanistan through Kyrgyzstan has been going on for the last decades. And a lot in the fights that seem politically painted or economically justified lies in the struggle for the section of this drug business. ”

It was through Badakhshan that all the last decades have been the main drug traffic from Afghanistan through Kyrgyzstan

In 2012, the name Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov, one of the most authoritative leaders in Badamshan, first appeared in the press and official messages. And one of the few who until recently remained alive.

Mamadbokir - Pamir Defender

Former field commander of the United Tajik opposition, Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov, known as Bokir, after the war entered the civil service and worked as the head of the commanders of the Murgaban border detachment with the rank of lieutenant colonel until 2007. Its part was considered the most prosperous, since for feeding soldiers Mamadbokirov scored cattle from his own farm.

The security forces both during the service and after dismissal from the state bodies tried to attract Bokir for banditry, the use of violence against a representative of the authorities, hooliganism, and obstruction of justice and abuse of authority. However, each time the inhabitants of the Barkhorog microdistrict stood up for him, it was there that local authority lived. They insisted that Bokir fights for justice and protects their rights.

In 2012, the State Agency for Drug Control accused Mamadbokirov of smuggling of prohibited substances. But the locals reacted to this statement with distrust. After all, the Barhorog district was famous for the fact that there were no drug sales and alcohol sales on its territory. Also, according to the people, successful smugglers live richly, and Bokir drove in an old car and did not own anything but herd of Jacob .

However, Bokir was neither arrested nor liquidated. Moreover: it is known that the backstage bargaining local authorities with the Dushanbinsky authorities in one form or another continued all subsequent years.

The backstage bargaining local authorities with the Dushanbinsky authorities lasted all subsequent years

In 2018, the authorities forced Mamadbokirov and other informal leaders of GBAO to sign the obligation to abstract from “illegal gatherings, the organization of criminal groups, youth calls for mass riots and seize state objects, destroy state property, insulting representatives of power, hooliganism, and illegal trafficking and trading weapons.” Perhaps the authorities actively continued to prepare the ground for future accusations of local residents of terrorism.

In the fall of 2018, the President of Tajikistan ordered to “end the crime” in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and gave the go-ahead to use the troops “if necessary”. This decision only increased the tension in the country. The Pamirs insisted that there are no more crime in their autonomy than in other areas of Tajikistan, and corruption - several times less.

Hot autumn and winter 2021

From 2018 to 2021, almost nothing changed in GBAO. The people were poor and went to earn money in Russia, and the security forces, which were invested from other regions and appointed to leading posts in autonomy, arranged armed robberies.

In November, Emomali Rahmon unexpectedly fired the chapter and public authority of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region Yodgor Fayzov. For several years, it was he who managed to resolve the conflicts between the local population and the police repeatedly arising in GBAO.

On November 25, the security forces shot a resident of the village of Tavdem, the Roshtkalinsky district, Tutishu Amirshoev and his friend, the famous MMA fighter. Gulbiddin Ziybekova. The latter accused of sexual harassment to his sister an assistant local prosecutor. Outraged residents of Khoroga went to an unauthorized rally demanding to hold employees of law enforcement agencies. In response, the police opened fire on protesters and wounded several people.

Street protests lasted several more days. However, on November 29, the authorities agreed to fulfill the requirements of the protesters. They promised not to pursue the participants in the protests and bring to criminal liability the guilty of the murder of Gulbiddin Zyubekov. Moreover, a group of 44 social activists was allowed to observe the progress of the investigation.

However, everything happened exactly the opposite. The investigation stalled, but the hunt for activists began. The authorities closed several dozens of the most active protests in good departure from the country, while strengthening the information blockade of the region.

The investigation stalled, but the hunt for activists began

In January 2022, the Badakhshan activists from Group-44, created to interact with power structures, suspended cooperation with the investigating authorities. They stated that the circumstances of the death and wounds of civilians at the hands of the security forces during the protest campaign on November no one is investigating, while ordinary citizens are held accountable for the most minor offenses. Group-44 demanded the displacement and arrest of the head of the Department of the State Committee of National Security for the GBAO and other employees of law enforcement agencies.

Detention, arrests, charges and strange "Afghans"

In 2022, the special services began hunting for at least some active Pamiris-both in the country and abroad. First, they seized charismatic leaders and popular athletes. They are very respected in Badakhshan, which means that people could follow them.

The first to arrest the famous fighter Sodik Amadbekov in Tajikistan. The detention occurred at the Dushanbe airport, where Amadbekov flew from Turkey. The Pamir Daily News Telegram channel, one of the main sources of the news from GBAO, wrote that Sodika under torture was forced to testify on local television. The fighter said:

“The youth of Khoroga is under pressure from the organized crime group, and he at Dushanbe, at his own free will, to surrender to the authorities.”

Soon, in Russia, with the participation of the Russian special services, the informal leader of Pamir youth in Moscow Amriddin Alovatshoev and a fighter of MMA Chorshanbe Chorshanbiev were detained, deported to Tajikistan and convicted .

In parallel, the GBAO prosecutor’s office opened another criminal case against Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov. However, he remained in his area of ​​GBAO, inaccessibility for special services, and continued to resist verbally. For example, Mamadbokirov recorded a video message in which he urged the authorities to leave the residents of the region alone and not make the enemies of the state from them. Under the investigation was Faromuz Irageshov, the head of the public “Group-44”.

At the same time, the Pamir Daily News Telegram channel reported the strange movements of the Tajik military towards the border with Afghanistan. There were people in Afghan clothes in cars. “It seems that a large -scale provocation is being prepared, the purpose of which is the republican authorities of the reason for the“ final solution of the Pamir issue ” - reprisals against the local leaders of the GBAO.”

An expert on the region agreed with such an assessment of the situation, Professor Alexander Knyazev:

“With Pamirs, they report that the performance with an invasion of Afghanistan is being prepared. In this context, it is probably possible to consider Emomali Rahmon about thousands of militants in the Afghan Border region. A possible goal - under the auspices of the “anti -terror” to finally crush the desire of the Badakhshans to real autonomy, neutralize public leaders. ”

Chronicle of May events

At the end of March, mobile communications and the Internet were restored, disconnected on Pamir in November 2021. But as soon as new protests began, the region again plunged into an information vacuum.

On May 14, the “general Badeszhan meeting” demanded the resignation of the head of the autonomy of Alisher Mirzonabot and the mayor of Khorog Rizo Nazarzod. They also insisted on the punishment of security forces guilty of the deaths of three local residents in November 2021, and to stop the intimidation and persecution of the region’s population. In case of refusal, they promised to reach rallies.

Local authorities recognized the requirements of the protesters illegal and refused to fulfill them, warning that any public speeches will be considered as terrorism.

The authorities recognized the requirements of the protesters illegal and warned that any public speeches would be considered as terrorism

Однако уже 16 мая сотни молодых людей все же вышли на улицы Хорога и направились к зданию областной администрации. Силовики ответили огнем, в результате которого был убит 30-летний житель Хорога Замир Назаршоев. Позже появились сведения и о втором погибшем.

17 мая МВД страны обвинило митингующих в вооруженном нападении на здание областного суда. Организаторами «преступной группы» были названы Улфатхоним Мамадшоева, известная в Таджикистане журналистка, общественная активистка и руководитель НПО «Честь и совесть», Алим Шерзамонов, заместитель председателя Национального альянса Таджикистана, и Мамадбокир Мамадбокиров.

Крупнейшее независимое СМИ Таджикистана «Азия-Плюс» заявило , что прекращает освещать события в ГБАО под угрозой закрытия. А в Душанбе неизвестные напали на журналистов радио «Озоди» и «Настоящего Времени», отобрав у них служебную технику и личные мобильные телефоны. Нападение произошло в тот момент, когда корреспонденты возвращались после интервью с Улфатхоним Мамадшоевой. Сама журналистка была арестована 18 мая по обвинению в призывах к свержению государственной власти. Накануне Мамадшоева в интервью «Фергане» рассказала, что считает эти обвинения «полным абсурдом», так как уже более недели она не выезжала из Душанбе и не предполагала, что в Хороге планируются акции протеста.

18 мая Министерство внутренних дел Таджикистана объявило о начале антитеррористической операции в Горно-Бадахшанской автономной области. В сообщении МВД сообщалось, что «преступники при поддержке международных террористических организаций получили за пределами страны оружие и боеприпасы, а также привлекли иностранных наемников для осуществления террористических актов и других форм провокации. Это действие было заведомо направлено против основ конституционного строя».

22 мая в Хороге был застрелен Мамадбокир Мамадбокиров. МВД страны не стало брать на себя ответственность и заявило, что убийство произошло «в результате внутренних криминальных разборок». Однако по сведениям Telegram-канала Pamir Daily News, именно сотрудники спецслужб расстреляли безоружного Мамадбокирова.

Уже 24 мая на гостелеканале «Точикистон» показали документальный фильм «Провал заговора» , в котором находящаяся под следствием Мамадшоева с листа бумаги зачитала признательные показания.

Журналистка подтвердила, что была в числе организаторов протестов в ГБАО. А их инициатором был Алим Шерзамонов, проживающий за рубежом заместитель председателя запрещенного в Таджикистане Национального альянса. Мамадшоева призналась в получении иностранной финансовой помощи и попросила прощения у жителей ГБАО за то, что «разрушила десятки судеб молодых и перспективных ребят».

Таджикская журналистка, бывший корреспондент BBC в Душанбе Анора Саркорова считает обвинения Мамадшоевой в организации антиправительственных акций «не просто бредом, а заведомой ложью»:

«Все те, кто до сих пребывает в шоке от просмотра пропагандистского фильма (...), должны понимать, что у спецслужб имеется множество инструментов для получения необходимых им признательных показаний. Кроме пыток и физического истязания задержанных, силовики шантажируют подследственных жизнью их детей и близких. По этой причине не стоит удивляться, что абсолютно невиновные люди начинают оговаривать себя и соглашаются озвучивать заранее подготовленные ГКНБ и МВД тексты».

Журналистка сообщила, что во время одной из последних «профилактических бесед» сотрудник ГКНБ Таджикистана угрожал ей изнасилованием ее малолетних дочерей. «Потому я лично не удивлена, почему известная правозащитница и журналист Улфатхоним Мамадшоева и генерал пограничных войск ГКНБ Таджикистана Холбаш Холбашов, оговорили себя и признались в том, чего никогда не совершали и не могли совершить. Шантаж жизнью близких и родных — самый действенный способ давления на задержанных», — говорит Саркорова.

Кровавый Рушан

Село Рушан, расположенное в 60 километрах от Хорога на дороге, ведущей из Душанбе, стало местом ожесточенного противостояния митингующих и силовиков. Местные жители, заблокировавшие автотрассу баррикадами, попали под обстрел с вертолета.

По официальным данным, в ходе спецоперации 8 боевиков убиты, 11 получили ранения и более 70 «активных членов террористических групп» были задержаны.

Несмотря на то, что «спецоперация по нейтрализации вооруженных боевиков в Бадахшане» была завершена еще 18 мая, Telegram-канал Pamir Daily News еще несколько дней подряд сообщал о продолжающейся «массовой зачистке Рушана и других селений».

«Люди с оружием заходят в дома и забирают без разбора всех мужчин. У задержанных массово отбирают телефоны, видимо не хотят, чтобы факты военных преступлений были опубликованы. Есть подтвержденные факты мародерства, из домов после посещения военных исчезают деньги и золото», — приводит слова местного жителя Pamir Daily News.

По данным источников канала, 19 мая военные выдали родственникам тела 17 жертв «контртеррористической операции» . Многих из них долгое время не удавалось захоронить.

Анора Саркорова сравнила побоище в Рушане с украинской Бучей:

«Вамар — как Буча. Везде трупы. Ищут людей. Везут в отделы милиции и ГКНБ на допрос и избивают до смерти».

Telegram-канал Pamir Daily News назвал происходящее «актом государственного террора» и привел слова местного жителя, сообщившего о смерти более сорока сельчан, попавших под минометный обстрел во время побега в горы.

Очевидцы сообщали , что раненых забирали из больниц, пытали, а их измученные тела выбрасывали возле рынка. Согласно сведениям Pamir Daily News, 44-летний Шухрат Руштов, житель Вамара и участник акций протеста, был задержан, а после расстрелян сотрудниками правоохранительных органов прямо посреди улицы. .

По сведениям местных жителей, силовики бросали тела в реку, чтобы скрыть следы жестоких пыток и бесчеловечных истязаний. А также раскидали вокруг погибших автоматы, пистолеты и патроны. Затем силовики снимали постановочное видео, имитируя вооруженное нападение. Саркорова так охарактеризовала сотрудников правоохранительных органов:

«Таким образом, с подачи властей, безоружные жертвы превратились в вооруженных бандитов и преступников».

Точное количество жертв, задержанных и пропавших без вести жителей Рушанского района до сих пор неизвестно.

Что говорит главный «террорист»

Заместитель председателя Национального альянса Таджикистана Алим Шерзамонов уверен в том, что власти страны пытаются узаконить свои антинародные преступления в Хороге и Рушане. В интервью The Insider Шерзамонов рассказал о том, что основная причина конфликта центра с Бадахшаном — это бизнес-интересы силовых структур:

«Не доверяя населению области, центр уже два десятка лет отчуждает местных граждан от ключевых постов в силовых структурах, а последнее время — и в исполнительной власти. О прокуратуре и судах и говорить не приходится. На официальную зарплату в наших условиях не проживешь, поэтому они ищут альтернативные источники дохода. Стоит отметить, что порядок ставить чиновников «на прокорм» с благословения самого верха властной иерархии до недавних пор был установлен на всей территории республики, кроме Бадахшана».

Шерзамонов считает, что спецоперация завершится массовыми репрессиями всех, кто в ближайшем будущем может хоть как-то угрожать их финансовым интересам в Бадахшане. Весь бизнесс же перейдет в руки центра:

«Скоро мы станем свидетелями отжима предпринимательских активов на территории ГБАО и создания совместных предприятий с китайскими инвестициями и известными монополистами Таджикистана. Свидетелями еще большего отчуждения местного населения от сколько-нибудь доходной позиции в госструктурах, где можно заработать на законе. Будет еще больший отток молодежи, в разы увеличится план призыва из Хорога и других “ненадежных” районов в ряды вооруженных сил Таджикистана».

Горный Бадахшан сейчас

Последние публикации в соцсетях из Хорога свидетельствуют о том, что поиск и задержания недовольных в ГБАО продолжаются. В области арестованы все участники «Группы-44». На окраине Хорога военные взорвали ведущий к областной больнице мост, а также разграбили и сожгли торговый центр.

Сегодня из Горного Бадахшана не поступает официальных сведений, которым можно было бы доверять. Связи нет как с активистами в Хороге и Рушане, так и со многими журналистами в Душанбе. Кого-то вызвали на допрос и изъяли всю технику, а кто-то временно прекратил корреспондентскую деятельность.

При участии Саиданвара Сулаймонова (Саши Печеньки)