DUSHANBE. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Files on participants in the riot at the Khujand High-Security Penitentiary No. 3/3 have been submitted to the Tajik Supreme Court, and the trial will begin soon, a court source told Interfax on Friday.
"The trial might begin soon enough," the source said without providing further comment and details.
Meanwhile, Tajik media outlets said, with reference to their sources, that there will be about 30 prisoners in the dock who are currently serving time in the high-security penitentiary in Khujand. They will be charged with "hindering the activity of correctional institutions," "murder," "heavy physical damage," and "violence against persons in authority."
The Tajik authorities said earlier that 21 inmates, including 15 convicted of terrorism and six convicted of murder and drug trafficking, were killed in the riot that broke out at the Khujand penitentiary in the small hours of November 8, 2018. Additionally, two officers of the penitentiary were killed and five injured.
Two weeks after the riot, Izatullo Sharifov was relieved of his duties as the head of the Penitentiary Department and first deputy justice minister. He was replaced by First Deputy Chairman of the National Security Committee Mansurjon Umarov.