Seven citizens of Tajikistan have been jailed in the Kazakh city of Almaty for preparation of terrorist attacks. 

A specialized inter-district court in Almaty sentenced them to jail terms ranging from 12 to 18 years on Septembe3 13, 2019.  The sentence reportedly followed their conviction on charges of organizing a terrorist group, preparing a terrorist attack, illegally manufacturing explosives, and storing and possessing weapons.     

According to the court’s website, Qosimjon Ghiyosov, who is a leader of the group, was sentenced to 18 year in prison.  He will serve his term a high-security penal colony.

Abduhalim Davlatov and Nematullo Nematov were sentenced to 14 years in prison each, while Parviz Tuichiyev, Sulton Aminzoda, Sharifali Safarov and Safiullo Qosimov were sentenced to 12 years each.  All of them will serve their jail terms in a medium-security penal colony. 

Under the direction of their spiritual leader “Shahahmad,” who is currently in Afghanistan, they were going to commit a number of terrorists attacks in Almaty from December 2018 to January 2019, says the Almaty specialized inter-district court.