DUSHANBE, August 23, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- No one force, even the 1,000-strong armed group, is able to seriously affect the political situation in Tajikistan because the current situation in the country differs considerably from that that had been here in the 1990s, Tajik political scientist Abdughani Mamadazimov told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon, commenting on the prison break that took place in Dushanbe on Sunday night.

“However, taking to account the mountain shape of the country I think it will not be easy to catch the escapees in Rasht Valley,” said the expert, “I am sure that local residents will not support them.”

He is confident that the escapees will fail to find supporters among residents of Rasht Valley and “organize political military force.”  “Tajikistan is politically sustainable country, and even despite low living standards and corruption, people are for peace and tranquility in the country,” Mamadazimov added.

We will recall that the prison escape took place in Dushanbe on Sunday night.  Some 25 inmates are said to have killed at least five prison guards in fire-fight before making their escape.   

According to Tajik law enforcement authorities, the inmates were among some 50 people convicted of an attempted coup in a closed-door trial last week and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 30 years.  Several Russian and Afghan nationals were said to be among the escaped prisoners.  All the escaped prisoners were said to be members of an armed group arrested by Tajik security forces in the east of the country last summer.

The escaped prisoners reportedly went to Rasht Valley.