The attack occurred on January 28, 2024, when two masked men entered the church and opened fire on the parishioners before fleeing the scene. As a result of the attack, a 52-year-old Turkish citizen named Tunçer Cihan was killed. The church priest noted that there could have been more victims if one of the terrorists had not experienced a malfunction with his weapon.
The terrorist organization "Islamic State" claimed responsibility for the attack. More than 60 people were detained during the investigation.
The investigation established that the terrorist act was organized by Tajik Amirjon Kholikov and Russian David Tanduyev under the direction of Adam Khamirzaev, who is also a citizen of Tajikistan and is known by the alias "Adam Abu-Darrar Al-Shishani".
The court found all three guilty on two counts of the Turkish Penal Code: "Attempted violent overthrow of the constitutional order" and "Intentional murder under aggravating circumstances," which led to the imposition of life sentences. They also received 143 years for "attempted intentional murder under aggravating circumstances".
In addition to the life sentences, five other citizens of Tajikistan connected to this case were also convicted: Shamsullo Rajabov, Alisher Rahimov, Farrukh Soliev, Abdulaziz Abdullaev, and Rasul Akhmadjanov. Each of them received:
▪️ 15 years for "attempted violent overthrow of the constitutional order,"
▪️ 15 years for "aiding and abetting and incitement to murder under aggravating circumstances,"
▪️ 71 years and 6 months for "aiding and abetting and incitement to attempted murder under aggravating circumstances."
Thus, each of them was sentenced to 101 years and 6 months.
Two other defendants, Isminali Mirzojonov and Edelkhan Inazhaev, received 6 years and 3 months in prison for "membership in an armed terrorist organization." All the convicted were linked to ISIS.
Of the 31 defendants, 31 were acquitted.
