A 23-year-old woman from the northern city of Istaravshan has been arrested on suspicion of killing two babies.

According to the Interior Ministry’s website, the preliminary investigation has established the Mavlouda Ziyodullo killed one-and-a-half-year-old boy, who was the son of her sister-in-law (her husband’s wife) and one-year-old girl, who was her niece (her brother’s daughter).  She confessed to the crimes.

Mavlouda Ziyodullo reportedly smothered them to death.  She killed the one-and-a-half-year-old Abubakr Shafiyev on August 29 and the one-year-old Fotima Boboyeva on September 29.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Mavlouda Ziyodullo under the provisions of Article 104 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – murder; an investigation is under way.

The Interior Ministry notes that outwardly Mavlouda Ziyodullo looks to be of sound mind but she has morbid hatred of children.  She has to undergo a psychiatric examination.