Sharifjon Ashourov, a 66-year-old man sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with one of the high-profile family murders in Konibodom, has been transferred from the pre-trial detention center in Khujand to a prison facility in the city of Vahdat.

According to law enforcement agencies in Sughd province, Ashourov was found guilty of murdering his brother Muzaffar Urmonov and sister-in-law Inoyat Urmonova in the spring of last year.  However, his family continues to deny his guilt, maintaining that he has been wrongfully convicted.

In an interview with Asia-Plus, Ashourov’s daughter, Dildora Ghiyosova, said the transfer to Vahdat two months ago has only added to the family’s suffering.

“Khujand is much closer to Konibodom, and we were able to visit him more often.  We last saw our father in Khujand in March.  Ten days later, when we came again, he was gone.  No one explained anything at first, and only later we were told that he had been moved to Vahdat.  Now it’s much harder for us to see him,” Ghiyosova explained.

Family appeals ignored

Ghiyosova, who lives with her four children and cares for her ailing mother in her father’s home, has made multiple appeals to various authorities, including the Prosecutor-General’s Office and the President’s Executive Office, requesting a review of the verdict.

“We kept getting the same response: ‘The appeal from citizen Dildora Ghiyosova has been forwarded for review.  Please inform the author in writing about the results.’  But there’s been no real progress,” she said.

Ghiyosova added that their family life was shattered after the arrest.  Her mother’s health deteriorated and she became bedridden.  Dildora now works as a day laborer and saves money to afford prison visits.

She recently visited her father in Vahdat and says that he continues to insist on his innocence.

No clarity from authorities

Beyond the initial announcement of Ashourov’s arrest and sentencing, officials have not provided any detailed explanation regarding the evidence or proceedings that led to his conviction.

It is worth noting that the Urmonov family, in which the victims were members, was among the victims of a series of mysterious killings in Konibodom in 2024.  According to reports, at least seven family murders occurred, claiming the lives of 23 people under unclear and disturbing circumstances.

Despite the severity and scale of these crimes, authorities have not publicly disclosed details about most of the cases, leaving many families and observers with more questions than answers.