Law enforcement authorities in Tajikistan have arrested a 28-year-old man in the Muminobod district of Khatlon province on suspicion of killing his former wife, reportedly driven by jealousy and personal hostility.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the suspect, identified as Navrouz Zafar, is a resident of the village of Ghesh in Khatlon’s Muminobod district. The reportedly incident occurred on December 16, 2025, about a week after the couple had divorced. The Interior Ministry disclosed details of the case in a televised report broadcast on December 31.

Investigators say the suspect went to the home of his former father-in-law, where he argued with his ex-wife, 27-year-old Javharbi Davlatsho, a mother of two. Authorities allege that the dispute escalated into violence.

“The suspect, after verbally abusing his former wife, stabbed her 11 times with a household knife, deliberately targeting vital organs,” the Interior Ministry said. “The victim died at the scene from her injuries.”

Following the attack, Zafar reportedly fled the scene but was later detained within the district. In the televised report, he confessed to the killing, though it remains unclear under what circumstances the confession was recorded.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against him under Article 104, Part 2, Clause “e” of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, which covers aggravated murder. If convicted, the suspect faces a sentence ranging from 15 years in prison to life imprisonment.

A broader pattern of domestic violence

The killing is not an isolated case. On December 12 last year, authorities reported the arrest of a man in the Mir Said Ali Hamadoni district of Khalton province who was suspected of beating his wife to death on December 5 using fists, kicks, and a wooden stick.

Tajikistan does not publish separate official statistics on spousal killings. However, Bunafsha Fayziddinzoda, head of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan, stated at a press conference in February last year that 3,246 crimes against women and girls were recorded nationwide in 2024.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 28 cases of murder and attempted murder were registered in Tajikistan during the first six months of 2025. It remains unclear how many of these involved domestic or spousal violence.

The case has once again drawn attention to the issue of domestic violence in the country, as rights advocates continue to call for stronger prevention measures and better protection for women at risk.