Tajikistan Mourns 10-Year-Old Killed in Moscow School Incident

The body of 10-year-old Qobiljon Aliyev, killed in a xenophobic attack at a Moscow-region school, was returned to Tajikistan on the morning of December 18.

Qobiljon was accompanied by his mother, Niloufar Aliyeva, and other family members, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

The funeral (janoza) took place in his native village of Ajami, Akram Hasanov jamoat, Shahrinav district, at 10:00 a.m. (GMT+5). Qobiljon was fatally stabbed by a 15-year-old ninth-grader, Timofey K., who attacked a security guard and other pupils before being apprehended. The Tajik government has called for an “immediate, objective, and impartial investigation,” describing the killing as motivated by national hatred.

According to reports, the assailant had previously asked classmates about their nationality, recorded the conversation, and shared it on Telegram. He wore gear with slogans referencing mass killings, including “No Lives Matter,” and praised attackers such as Anders Breivik. He also sent classmates a manifesto targeting Muslims, Jews, and leftists, citing the far-right “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory.

Russian authorities have not formally labeled the attack a hate crime, and federal investigators have yet to confirm a motive. Experts note that neo-Nazism is spreading among younger Russians. This incident follows a similar xenophobic school killing in April, when a 14-year-old in Nekrasovsky murdered a 9-year-old boy from Kyrgyzstan.