KHUJAND, August 15, 2008, Asia-Plus -- The Sughd military prosecutor’s office has completed investigation into case of two private soldiers of one of border units, deployed in northern Tajikistan, and it has already moved to court.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Muslimjon Khudoiberdiyev, a judge with the Sughd military court, said that a 23-year-old Qurbon Khalilov from Hissor and the 20-year-old Zubaydullo Aliyev from Shahritus had served in sub-unit # 2805, deployed in Sughd’s Panjakent district, only four months and they then had gone to Uzbekistan, where they had been doing day labor to earn money.

“On February 4, 2008, Khalilov and Aliyev left the sub-unit without permission and illegally crossed into Uzbekistan, where they were doing day labor during 24 days,” said Khudoiberdiyev.  “The servicemen were detained by Uzbek border guards and extradited to the Tajik law enforcement authorities.”  

According to the judge, criminal proceedings have been instituted against Khalilov and Aliyev under the provisions of three articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 375, Part 3 (willfully leaving sub-unit); Article 335, Part 2 (illegal border crossing); and Article 311, Part 1 (divulgence of a state secret).

If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison on the illegal border crossing charge alone.