Court orders defense ministry to pay only 5,000 somoni in compensation for soldier’s death

The Dushanbe military court has ordered the Ministry of Defense to pay only 5,000 somoni in compensation to the parents of a soldier who died after he was allegedly beaten by older soldiers.

Lawyer Dilshod Jourayev, representing Firdavs Rahmatov’s parents, says the ruling is unfair and he will appeal against the court ruling.

We will recall that Rahmatov’s parents have filed a lawsuit in a court of the Dushanbe military garrison demanding the Ministry of Defense pay 238,800 somoni in damages for moral losses.

Consideration of the case pitting soldier’s parents against the Ministry of Defense began in the Dushanbe military garrison court on June 17.

Firdavs Rahmatov from the city of Khujand, the capital of Sughd province, was called up for military service on May 7, 2015 and on June 7, 2015 his body was handed over to his father Ghani Rahmatov.

Ghani Rahmatov wrote on Facebook page that his son died after being severely beaten by older soldiers.

Firdavs had served in military unit 04080 deployed in the northern city of Konibodom.

Sughd military prosecutor Abduqodir Nourov on June 11, 2015 gave an extraordinary press conference in Khujand over the deadly hazing incident that took place on June 7 in military unit 04080.

According to him, investigation established that Firdavs Rahmatov died after being severely beaten by older soldiers Rabboni Sulaymonov, Komron Rahimov and Ayom Nazarov.

Criminal proceedings were instituted against Sergeant Sulaymonov and Sergeant Rahimov under the provisions of Article 391 (3) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – abuse of authorities entailing grave consequences or death, while criminal proceedings against Private Nazarov have been instituted under the provisions of Article 373 (2) – violation of army rules.

On October 1, 2015, the Sughd military garrison court sentenced Rabboni Sulaymonov, Komron Rahimov and Ayom Nazarov to 18, 17½ and 17 years in prison respectively.  They are serving their terms in a high-security penal colony.

“Dedovshchina,” the often brutal hazing of new recruits by older soldiers, remains a significant problem in the Tajik army.

Media reported last year on four deaths in Tajikistan as a result of hazing: Firdavs Rahmatov, Abduvahhob Qayumov, Parviz Dustmatov and Azam Ubaidulloyev.

Human rights organizations in Tajikistan have criticized the government for not doing enough to stop hazing in the military.

In a recent change, Tajikistan’s government now allows soldiers to telephone the military prosecutor's office to report alleged hazing.