After the protests at the end of last year, tensions in society are growing in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). The employees of government agencies are forced to resign because they do not want to participate in a propaganda campaign to accuse the protesters.
Khorog during the protest on November 27. Photo: rferl.org
The situation in GBAO escalated after the security forces’ operation of November 25, 2021, in which Gulbiddin Ziyobekov, a resident of Roshtkala district, was killed. Four more GBAO residents were killed during the ensuing protests.
Khujamri Pirnazarov, a spokesman for ‘Group 44’ established by civil society on November 28 to resolve the situation in GBAO, told CABAR.asia that the authorities had to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation into Gulbiddin Ziyobekov’s death as part of the agreement. Initially, six representatives of civil society were involved in the investigation, but on January 18, they refused to cooperate with the authorities.
According to the ‘Group 44’ representative, the reason for this was the fact that the investigators from the Prosecutor General’s Office, having returned after the New Year holidays, sent the cases initiated against Gulbiddin Ziyobekov in 2020 to court instead of investigating his murder.
“They are not examining the murder case. The investigation is biased,” Pirnazarov said.
The activists from GBAO published the video messages addressed to the Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (the upper chamber of Parliament) Rustam Emomali and President Emomali Rahmon twice. They complained about the investigation and local authorities.
However, according to ‘Group 44’, they did not receive a response to these messages. The protesters are now refusing to cooperate with the investigation team demanding that five conditions be met, including the dismissal of the Head of the State Committee for National Security for GBAO and the Head of the Khorog police department.
The ‘Group 44’ representatives also claim that the authorities put pressure on the protesters instead of investigating the murder of Ziyobekov. For example, during the protests in Khorog on November 25-28, several trees were felled to block the Dushanbe-Khorog Road. According to Khujamri Pirnazarov, six people received prison terms for felling the trees. Five people were sentenced to four years, one – to one year in prison. The verdict was announced two weeks ago.
In addition, the authorities did not fulfil their promise to restore internet access.
“In two months, we met with law enforcement agencies about 20 times and asked to restore internet access. They said they would do it in a day or two, then – in ten days. However, internet access is still blocked. People are afraid another security forces’ operation will begin in the region any day,” Khujamri Pirnazarov says.
At a press conference on January 31, Deputy Head of the Communications Service of Tajikistan Ilhomjon Atoev said that the internet in GBAO was blocked for “protection against information terrorism” and did not comment on this issue further.
There is also pressure on GBAO natives, primarily those who participated in protests abroad. For example, on January 12, Roshtkala district resident Amriddin Alovatshoev disappeared under mysterious circumstances. He participated in a protest near the Embassy of Tajikistan in Moscow on November 25. At a press conference on February 2, the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan Yusuf Rahmon stated that Amriddin Alovatshoev had been detained in Russia and was now in Tajikistan. The Prosecutor General refused to comment further.
Tajik analyst Parviz Mullojanov says the reason for the current deadlock in GBAO is the lack of dialogue between the authorities and the public.
“Negotiation is the best way to resolve a misunderstanding. When there is no dialogue, the problem cannot be solved. A conflict is the consequence of any restriction. That is why the situation should be resolved through negotiations,” Parviz Mullojanov says.
Public Officials Claim They Are Forced to Criticise the Protesters
The authorities refrain from talking to journalists about the investigation into the murder of Ziyobekov. Recently, the Chairman of the region met with the mother of the deceased and said only that the investigation into the murder is ongoing.
Instead, Badakhshon TV (a local state-owned TV channel) airs videos that criticise participants of the November protests and call Gulbiddin Ziyobekov a criminal. In particular, in a 46-minute video shown on December 9 last year on Badakhshon TV, the authorities stated that in February 2020, Ziyobekov and several other people kidnapped an assistant prosecutor of Roshtkala district Abdusattor Abirzoda. The reason for these actions was that Abdusattor Abirzoda allegedly harassed a local young woman. The authorities claim that 29-year-old Ziyobekov repeatedly ignored government requests to appear before investigators and used weapons during his arrest.
The protesters are called criminals on the state Badakhshon TV channel. Photo: Asia-Plus
However, the spokesman for the ‘Group 44’ Khujamri Pirnazarov says that Gulbiddin Ziyobekov walked freely around Khorog during the last year, visited the city stadium, and parked his car next to the State Committee for National Security building.
“He visited the celebration of Aga Khan’s birthday in Roshtkala district, where the security officers, the religious leaders, and the district’s Chairman were present; he participated in the national wrestling competition. Why was he not arrested then?” wonders Khujamri Pirnazarov.
Such messages are broadcast on local TV channels almost every day. Mainly, the speakers are employees of state bodies or state-funded organisations. In particular, Nargis Jonmirzoeva and Aziza Karachabekova, teachers at school No. 6 of Roshtkala district, reported that people are forced to participate in these video shootings. According to them, the Department of Internal Affairs of GBAO forced them to make a statement on camera.
Their fellow villagers blamed them for appearing on the local TV channel and they had problems with their husbands, who were ready to divorce them.
At the same time, the teachers note that they do not support the official narrative of events, since Amirsho Tutishoev (who died from a bullet wound during the protests) was their student and was an exemplary young man. They do not agree with Badakhshon TV statements labelling Tutishoev a criminal.
Meanwhile, several public officials anonymously told CABAR.asia that some of their colleagues decided to quit their jobs due to their unwillingness to participate in this propaganda campaign.
A resident of Khorog who worked for the local government for many years says her relatives want her to quit her job.
“A few days before the events, I took unpaid leave and went to Dushanbe for medical treatment. I returned to Khorog in January, but my husband said he was against me working at the previous place. I went to visit my colleagues, but the city administration building was almost empty. The friends from other departments say that many people quit their jobs,” said CABAR.asia source.
Another public official says he is also considering quitting the job where he worked for more than 10 years.
According to CABAR.asia source, he was forced to give an interview to the state Badakhshon TV channel, but he refused and decided to write a resignation letter himself.
“I do not earn a lot of money working here. We make a living mainly due to our sons’ financial support from Russia. They asked me in advance not to speak on TV, they said they would be ashamed if I did this,” said the source.
According to him, he also understands that “this is all wrong”.
“People participated in protests to obtain justice – and they are right in their demands. In addition, I do not want society to despise me later or my sons to turn their backs on me, as it happened to others,” said the source.
He also confirmed that many employees of the state bodies resign: they either write resignation letters or take unpaid leaves.
According to other CABAR.asia sources, the tension in society is growing due to the propaganda campaign.
For example, the residents of certain districts of Khorog decided to boycott some people who spoke on Badakhshon TV channel criticising the protesters. These people were declared ‘raddi maraka’ [“excluded from events” – Tr.]. They will not be invited to any traditional events (weddings or funeral receptions) anymore. Other people will not attend their events. In traditional Pamir society, ‘raddi maraka’ is a very serious measure since many people do not want to become outcasts.
According to CABAR.asia sources, the former chairman of the city (who spoke on TV criticising the protests) was forced to leave one of the events. After that, the former official left Khorog and went to Dushanbe.
A local expert anonymously told CABAR.asia that such a mechanism is the only tool that can withstand the pressure of the authorities.
“For most GBAO residents, being a ‘raddi maraka’ means being disgraced. The weddings are not very important, but if people do not come to you in your grief to read duo (prayers) for the deceased, this is much more serious,” says an expert.