Mahmud Khudoiberdiyev
Encyclopedia
Colonel Mahmud Khudoiberdiyev is a rebel leader in Tajikistan
who, while initially an ally of Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov, now opposes the government. He is a former member of the Central Committee of the Tajik Communist Party and a former lieutenant-major in the Soviet Army
. He is half-Uzbek
and half-Tajik.
He has expressed support for recreating the Soviet Union
.
Khudoiberdiyev helped President Rakhmonov become head of state
in 1992, but began a rebellion on 16 August 1997. Two days later reports of Uzbek government support for his rebellion surfaced, an allegation Uzbek officials denied. Rakhmonov accused former Prime Minister Abdulmalik Abdullojonov of leading the rebellion on 9 November 1998.
His troops killed 10 Tajik government in Chkalovsk, Tajikistan on 4 November 1998, successfully taking several administrative buildings in Khujand
before taking most of Leninabad Oblast. His troops also tried to take control of the city's airport. He asked that at least 40% of all government jobs for northern Tajiks. President Imomali Rakhmonov met with the Tajik Security Council with Zafar Saidov, the president's spokesman, calling the situation "very serious." A few days later the government regained control of the province. When the International Red Cross surveyed the results of the fighting, they found over 2,000 killed, 500 injured. The government declared November 10 a day of mourning.
The Tajik Supreme Court sentenced two of Khudoiberdiyev's militant followers to death on 27 December 1999 for their involvement in clashes with the government in November 1998. 33 other militants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 19 years for terrorism
and other related charges. 121 of the estimated 1,000 rebels were arrested. The Tajik government again accused the Uzbek government of protecting Khudoiberdiyev.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
who, while initially an ally of Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov, now opposes the government. He is a former member of the Central Committee of the Tajik Communist Party and a former lieutenant-major in the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
. He is half-Uzbek
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
and half-Tajik.
He has expressed support for recreating the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Khudoiberdiyev helped President Rakhmonov become head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
in 1992, but began a rebellion on 16 August 1997. Two days later reports of Uzbek government support for his rebellion surfaced, an allegation Uzbek officials denied. Rakhmonov accused former Prime Minister Abdulmalik Abdullojonov of leading the rebellion on 9 November 1998.
His troops killed 10 Tajik government in Chkalovsk, Tajikistan on 4 November 1998, successfully taking several administrative buildings in Khujand
Khujand
Khujand , also transliterated as Khudzhand, , formerly Khodjend or Khodzhent until 1936 and Leninabad until 1991, is the second-largest city of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley...
before taking most of Leninabad Oblast. His troops also tried to take control of the city's airport. He asked that at least 40% of all government jobs for northern Tajiks. President Imomali Rakhmonov met with the Tajik Security Council with Zafar Saidov, the president's spokesman, calling the situation "very serious." A few days later the government regained control of the province. When the International Red Cross surveyed the results of the fighting, they found over 2,000 killed, 500 injured. The government declared November 10 a day of mourning.
The Tajik Supreme Court sentenced two of Khudoiberdiyev's militant followers to death on 27 December 1999 for their involvement in clashes with the government in November 1998. 33 other militants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 19 years for terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and other related charges. 121 of the estimated 1,000 rebels were arrested. The Tajik government again accused the Uzbek government of protecting Khudoiberdiyev.