A 15-year-old resident of Dushanbe has been detained on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, the Interior Ministry’s website reports.  

Preliminary investigations have reportedly revealed that on the evening of December 21, the suspect had an argument with a 17-year-old acquaintance in the bathroom of an apartment.  During the altercation, the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the back.

According to a forensic examination, the victim was hospitalized in critical condition with an acute penetrating wound to the posterior part of the left side of the chest.

The Interior Ministry has refrained from providing further details due to the involvement of minors.  The investigation is ongoing.

Youth knife violence in Tajikistan

Knife attacks remain a common way for young people in Tajikistan to resolve conflicts and disputes. Social and cultural factors, such as peer pressure, lack of emotional maturity, and the accessibility of bladed weapons, often escalate verbal disagreements into violent confrontations.

In response, law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan have conducted the “Knife” operation since 2019.

The campaign aims to reduce crimes involving cold weapons, particularly among teenagers and young adults.