Research has shown that more than 85% of Tajik citizens who joined terrorist organisations did so after spending a period of migration in Russia.

The study was conducted by two professors at Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry Academy. It was lately posted on Facebook, but then deleted.

This year, dozens of Tajik nationals have been linked to terrorist attacks and deadly plots in countries including Russia, Iran, the United States and Germany. Tajikistan sprung to world attention as a rewarding recruiting ground for Islamist extremists intent on terrorism in March, when more than 140 people were killed in a gun attack on Crocus City Hall concert venue in outer Moscow. The atrocity was allegedly carried out by four Tajik migrants, who are currently in detention in Russia awaiting trial.

The professors’ analysis also assesses that 90% of young Tajiks who were radicalised were living in Russia when they came under the influence of extremist imams and online groups. Many were religiously devout prior to migrating from Tajikistan.

The researchers conclude that Tajik diaspora groups should be advised to make more concentrated efforts at fighting religious extremism. They do not, however, address concerns that it is sheer repression of devout Muslims and other unfavoured groups by Tajikistan’s Rahmon regime that drives many citizens to leave Tajikistan in the first place and become vulnerable to those promising rewarding lives through radicalisation.

Separately, around 1,800 state workers in the southern Tajik region of Khatlon, bordering Afghanistan—a base for multiple jihadist groups—have been assigned to go door-to-door to warn people about joining religious extremist groups.

RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported that during informal talks, as part of a wider campaign known simply as Door-To-Door, officials urge people to remain vigilant against online groups that set out to recruit young men for terrorist organisations under the guise of Islam, according to Khatlon residents.

"The information that we get from law enforcement agencies is alarming. The number of young people who joined religious extremist groups is very high in our province," Khatlon Governor Davlatali Saeed told reporters in August, though he did not give estimates.

The Door-To-Door teams are said to have visited more than 620,000 households across the province so far to speak to young people and their parents.

The teams are made up of government officials, local council members, teachers and doctors. They take special courses before deployment.

A professor who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity said: "Visiting people's homes to personally warn everyone about the online recruiters could be effective, because the parents of the Tajiks who went to Syria or attacked Crocus say they didn't know their sons were being brainwashed by IS [Islamic State, or ISIS].

"But the lectures alone are not enough. Young people need to have jobs with decent wages and other economic opportunities that gives them hope for a good future. Hopelessness can be dangerous."