The Prosecutor's Office of Hatlon Region expressed disagreement with the court's decision that sentenced Yusuf (Jurabek) Salikhov, a former guard of field commander Khudji Karimov, to 8 years in prison, as reported by Radio Ozodi.
Salikhov was sentenced in February of this year. The Bohtar Court found him guilty of group murder during the civil war and initially sentenced him to 12 years in prison. However, the court stated that the sentence was adjusted to 8 years in prison taking into account the general amnesty of 1998.
Avaz Nazarzoda, the prosecutor of Hatlon Region, requested the Supreme Court of Tajikistan to review the sentence and impose a longer prison term on Salikhov, deeming the punishment "lenient" and not commensurate with the crime committed. A copy of the prosecutor's letter is in possession of Radio Ozodi.
Meanwhile, the defense of the convicted believes that Salikhov should be released altogether. Said Salimzoda, Salikhov's lawyer, stated in a separate appeal to the Supreme Court that his client has been a member of the People's Front since 1992 but has never worked for government agencies. Salimzoda argues that the case against Salikhov should be dropped due to the statute of limitations.
Salikhov himself admitted in court that he was present during the crime but denied personally committing any murders. Salikhov and ten other members of an armed gang allegedly participated in the mass murder of 22 family members in the Khuroson (formerly Gozimalik) area in the fall of 1992. All bodies were reportedly burned after the killings.
