Representatives of civil society have suspended their participation in the work of a commission that was set up to investigate the events that took place in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), last month.

They are concerned that while the investigation is still ongoing, but the law enforcement authorities already accuse local residents, and the question of people killed and wounded during the rally has not even been raised.  

Protesters claim an excessive interference of GBAO chief prosecutor in the work of commission

Representative of civil society claim an excessive interference of the regional prosecutor's office in the work of the commission, in particular, the GBAO chief prosecutor Parviz Orifzoda.  

The commission to investigate the circumstances of the killing of the resident of GBAO’s Roshtqala district Gulbiddin Ziyobekov was set up on November 28 and seven members of Group 44, which had been set up from among the protesters to monitor the implementation of agreements reached between the protesters and the authorities, joined the commission.  

One of representatives of civil society participating in the work of the commission, Khursand Mamadshoyev, says they have informed official about their decision to suspend their participation in the work of the commission.  

“We have no complaints about the work of a representative of the Prosecutor General's Office, but the GBAO chief prosecutor interferes in all matters and one feels that he wants to direct the work of the commission in a completely different direction.  He interrupts the work of the commission, scandals and openly intervenes.  All this made us temporarily suspend our participation in the work of the commission,” Mr. Mamadshoyev told Asia-Plus in an interview by phone Thursday (December 16) evening. 

According to him, the authorities have not yet kept any of their promises, including restoration of access to Internet.  “It seems they just deceived the people,” Mamadshoyev added. 

On December 16, representatives of the GBAO civil society made a video message expressing concern about non-compliance with their demands after the protest rally of November 25-28.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office claims the opposite

The press center of the Prosecutor-General’s Office reported on December 13 that Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda, the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) Head Saymumin Yatimov and GBAO chief prosecutor Parviz Orifzoda have met in Khorog with representatives of civil society.

A statement published by the state-run news agency Khovar, in particular, says they allegedly thanked representatives of civil society and residents of Khorog for their help in stabilizing the situation.

Lawyers Manouchehr Kholiqnazarov and Muzaffar Muborakshoiyon reportedly delivered a statement on behalf of civil society and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the investigation.

The meeting participants allegedly came to an agreement that “the process of investigative actions will be continued in accordance with the requirements of the country’s legislation.”

What is civil society worried about?

The problem of civil society dissatisfaction with the work of the investigative commission have become widely covered on social networks in recent days.  Thus, Pamir Daily News portal last week reported several times that the work of the commission had reached an impasse. 

Several representatives of GBAO civil society participating in the work of the commission told Radio Ozodi on December 16 that local authorities have unreasonably interfered with the work of the commission.  Some of them said that the authorities had taken from them an agreement not to disclose the course of the investigation through media, while the law enforcement agencies themselves have been disseminate information about that through Tajik national TV channels.  

Khujamri Pirmamadov, a representative of GBAO civil society, told Radio Ozodi that local officials have been visiting schools, hospitals and other federally funded organizations and demanding that their representatives speak on local TV station condemning events in Tavdem.