Approximately 100 Tajik citizens were sent to war in Ukraine from Russian prisons, Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda said today during a press conference in Dushanbe.

However, the minister did not say anything specific on this issue and only under pressure from journalists reported on the approximate number of Tajiks sent from Russian prisons to the war.

Rahimzoda noted that the Russian partners do not provide Tajikistan with such information, and that the exchange of data on this issue is not included in the agreements in force between the two countries.

This case was the first time when a high-ranking official of Tajikistan reveals approximate data on the number of Tajiks convicted in the Russian Federation and sent to war.

Not so long ago, the media identified about 20 Tajik citizens who joined the Ukrainian war after leaving Russian prisons and subsequently died.

It should be noted that the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine stimulated Russia to actively mobilize a military contingent, including foreign citizens and prisoners.

The Russian "Wagner" campaign had previously received permission to recruit prisoners from various Russian prisons, promising amnesty and generous monetary rewards.

In this regard, reports have also appeared on the forced mobilization of prisoners to participate in the Ukrainian war. Russian officials have not commented on the allegations.