KHUJAND, August 26, 2008, Asia-Plus -- A military court in the Sughd province has completed criminal proceedings against two private soldiers of border unit # 2805, deployed in the Panjakent, and ruled that they be given suspended sentences. 

 We will recall that a 23-year-old Qurbon Khalilov from Hissor and the 20-year-old Zubaydullo Aliyev from Shahritus, who served in sub-unit # 2805 for only four months, went to Uzbekistan, where they were doing day labor to earn money.

The source at the Sughd military court said that 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.  The servicemen were detained by Uzbek border guards and extradited to the Tajik law enforcement authorities.  

Khalilov and Aliyev faced charges 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).