Among escapers from Dushanbe prison six Russian citizens

Overnight, a group of prisoners numbering about 25 under circumstances unclear so far seized arms and attacked servicemen and prison guards. According to the preliminary information, in the exchange of fire, six interior ministry officers were killed. There were no reports whether anybody among the prisoners was killed.

An interception operation was promptly launched. All the roads from Dushanbe were blocked. However, nobody of the escapers has been found yet. According to some sources, the prisoners could head for the east and escape to the mountains.

All the escapers were from an armed anti-government group of former minister for emergencies Mirzo Ziyeyev, who headed armed Islamic opposition groups in the east of the country during the civil war. After he was removed from office, the general in disfavor went to his native land in Tavildara region near the Pamir mountains, where he formed an anti-government group consisting of former supporters and mercenaries, including from the North Caucasus. In August last year, the group was smashed in a special operation by Tajik security and army units.

In the closed-door trial concluded late last week, 46 indicted persons, including six Russia citizens, were sentenced to long imprisonment terms -- from 10 to 30 years.

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon is informed about the unprecedented mass escape from the well-guarded prison located in central Dushanbe.