DUSHANBE, 02.08.2018./NIAT «Khovar»/. In Tajikistan, the security forces neutralized the underground terrorist cell of the banned Islamic renaissance party (IRP)*, whose members aimed to commit several terrorist attacks. “RIA Novosti” reported citing the Public Relations Center of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan on Wednesday, August 1.

The operation was carried out in February, 14 people were detained by special services. These people planned to commit several major terrorist attacks in the republic during the celebration of Navruz in March 2018. One of their goals was the 201st Russian military base in Dushanbe.

In addition, members of this cell were trained in Afghanistan, and then took part in hostilities in the ranks of Islamic state (IS)* terrorist organization. Their combat training was funded by the TEO IRP.

Details of the radicals’ case became known only after the trial. All those arrested were found guilty of mercenarism, organization of activities of an extremist organization, illegal crossing of the state border and terrorism. The founders of the cell — 25-year-old Fakhriddin Gulov and Mahmudjon Azamov — received by 26 years in prison, and the rest by seven years.

On July 29, a group of foreign tourists traveling around Tajikistan on bicycles was attacked. Four people were killed, two more were injured. The terrorist group “Islamic state” took responsibility for the attack. The authorities blamed the terrorist and extremist organization Islamic Renaissance party for the incident. Later, there appeared in Internet a video of the swearing of attackers on foreign tourists – citizens of Tajikistan to IS. The national news agency “Khovar”, citing law enforcement agencies of the country, reported that these people were also involved in the TEO IRP. “This once again proves the fact that the Islamic renaissance party has close ties and cooperation with the “Islamic state” terrorist group”, — the agency writes.

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* banned in Tajikistan