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The criminal case against Farhod Nazarov, a teacher accused of slapping an 11th-grade student in the city of Levakant, has been forwarded to court. While legal proceedings move forward, Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education has voiced support for the embattled educator. On the morning of October 27, Nazarov told Asia-Plus that he recently visited the Levakant prosecutor’s office to review the case materials. “They gave me the case file, I read it. The course of events was described accurately, without any extra or misleading details. I signed the bottom of the document. The staff were respectful and professional. They said the case would be sent to court,” Nazarov explained. According to the teacher, while the case has now been officially submitted to the court, a hearing date has not yet been set. Proceedings are expected to begin in November in Levakant’s city court. Nazarov has not yet hired a lawyer. Unofficial sources report that the teacher is being charged under Article 174 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, which pertains to “Failure to fulfill duties in the education and upbringing of minors.” If found guilty, he could face a fine ranging from 52,500 somonis to 75,000 somonis or a prison sentence of one to two years. Nazarov previously admitted in an interview that he had struck the student — Mehmed Bozorov — but claimed it was not without cause. “Yes, I admit that I hit the student, but there was a reason. I simply don't have the means to pay such a fine,” the teacher said. So far, Bozorov and his family have not commented publicly on the case, and they have not responded to repeated calls from Asia-Plus. Ministry of education stands behind the teacher Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education and Science confirmed to Asia-Plus that Minister Rahim Saidzoda is personally monitoring the investigation. Officials stated that the ministry would not abandon the teacher. “The Ministry of Education and Science does not intend to interfere with the work of other institutions, but we are closely monitoring every detail of the case,” a ministry representative said. “A representative from the Khatlon Regional Department of Education will attend the court hearing. We will not leave the teacher without support.” The incident has sparked widespread public reaction in Tajikistan, with many civic figures expressing solidarity with the teacher and stressing the importance of upholding the educator’s authority. Conflicts between teachers and students have been a recurring topic in the country. Last year alone, at least three similar incidents were reported by local media—one in the city of Bokhtar, the capital of Khatlon province, and two in Khatlon’s Khovaling district. In response to increasing cases of school bullying, the Ministry of Education introduced a guidance document last year aimed at school administrations, class supervisors, and teachers. It provides measures for the prevention of bullying and cyberbullying.
