Federal Witness Paid $66K to Incriminate Stephen Silva

Our America: Guilt by association in Boston Bombing Case.


According to court records filed Wednesday, September 10, 2014, an unnamed cooperating witness was paid more than $66,000 for his assistance in creating a federal case against Stephen Silva, 21, an immigrant from Cape Verde. Silva is charged with distribution of heroin and possession of an unregistered firearm "linked to" the shooting of MIT police officer Sean Collier shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings.

Silva's long time girlfriend Aisha told New Trend that "all of these charges against him ARE RIDICULOUS and untrue. He should not be punished just because him and Jahar went to the same high school. They are individuals and should take responsibility for their own actions. THERE SHOULD NOT BE GUILT BY ASSOCIATION.

"I know for a fact what the media is reporting is UNTRUE and not the real Stephen. Therefore, I will stand by Stephen's side through this," she insisted.

Stephen Silva, who was arrested in November 2013 but not charged until July 15, 2014, pled "Not Guilty" in front of weeping onlookers as he was arraigned last month in federal court in Boston. His twin brother with a similar name, Steven Silva, who converted to Islam at age 16, also attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school along with accused Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He knew Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov at UMass Dartmouth, who are charged in federal court with interfering with the bombing investigation, and Robel Phillipos, who is charged with lying to investigators. Like all Jahar's friends, Silva has not been charged with knowing anything about the bombings. So why is testimony against him so important??

"The witness has received approximately $66,000 from the government for the witness's involvement in the Silva case and other investigations. The total includes payments for services, expenses, and relocation costs, as well as vehicle fines," Milton Valencia reports in the Globe.

"At one point, when the witness first began cooperating, he was pulled over for speeding in New Hampshire and had a suspended driver's license. A state trooper assigned to an FBI task force advised the New Hampshire officer of the witness's cooperation. Authorities in New Hampshire towed the witness's car but did not cite him. The FBI task force subsequently helped the witness obtain a license allowing him to drive at certain times.

"At one point, the FBI paid an outstanding fine that the witness had with a prior landlord, so that the witness could obtain Section 8 housing.

"During the time the witness was cooperating with the FBI, he was arrested for failing to pay a civil fine for child support. A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent called a state Department of Revenue attorney asking for the witness's release, but the department refused.

"The government has also helped the witness and his family relocate, and has indicated it will provide further assistance to ensure the safety of the witness and his family. The government has refused to identify the witness at this time out of fear that it would "put [the witness's] safety and the safety of its family in jeopardy."

The paid, confidential witness is cooperating in the drug investigation against Silva, whose friends were all shocked by the federal charges because he was only known to smoke marijuana, he didn't do heroin. No one knew him to have a gun.

Prosecutors say Silva possessed a Ruger P95 9mm pistol, with a scratched out serial number, in February 2013.

A gun of that same make and model was recovered in a Watertown neighborhood on the early morning of April 19, 2013, after police exchanged gunfire with Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Dzhokhar's older brother. Federal authorities claim that Silva's gun is "related to" or "similar to" the gun used in the Collier shooting but have not said how they are linked.

"Whilst the charges against him are related to possession of an illegal firearm and drug dealing it was widely reported, (although seemingly unsubstantiated), that Stephen provided the gun with which one of the Tsarnaev brothers allegedly killed Officer Collier. The occurrence of these rumors, leaks or whatever they might be could be thought to cast doubt on the validity of the case and indeed the charges against Stephen Silva. Is he simply being used to aid the government in the conviction of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev?" writes jane24 on firedoglake.com.

"The Ruger pistol which was allegedly used by Tamerlan Tsarnaev during the Watertown shootout on 18th/19th April, 2013 was said to have been recovered at the scene. If this was the case, one would have cause to wonder when exactly Stephen Silva is alleged to have been in possession of this weapon? Earlier this year there were some media reports that this weapon had been traced to a drug dealer in Maine."

Silva, 21, of Cambridge, who is being held without bail, was called before "a federal grand jury over a year ago in connection with another matter and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights," reads the court document filed Wednesday.

"Are things as they might first appear in the case of Stephen Silva? Or, could it be that this individual finds himself facing criminal charges and incarceration because he is yet another who has failed to cooperate with the FBI? As far as we are aware, the FBI has seemingly little evidence to tie either of the Tsarnaev brothers to the murder of Officer Collier. Could it be that they need a witness for the prosecution in the case of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev? If this was the case, how far would the FBI be prepared to go in order to attain that witness?" asks jane24.

Silva was studying political science, and planned to go to law school and become a public defender. His friends cannot believe he would ever say something to the police as absurd as what the New York Daily News reported that he said, "I smoke weed because my best friend was the bomber."

http://newtrendmag.org/ntma1567.htm

Huge Sentences for non-Violent association with Boston Bombing Suspect

Dias Kadyrbayev Offers Plea: Helpless Muslims with poor Legal Support
http://newtrendmag.org/ntma1564.htm


Shocked by his best friend, Azamat Tazhayakov's trial outcome, and with a September 8 trial date fast approaching, Dias Kadyrbayev, who is being held in solitary confinement, has decided to accept a plea bargain, acknowledging that "Boston has already decided on guilt."

David Frank reported in Mass Lawyers Weekly, "Kadyrbayev's New Jersey lawyer, Robert Stahl, confirms that his client will indeed change his plea. Although Stahl declined to comment on the particulars of the deal until after the hearing, it is likely that the parties have signed some type of written agreement laying out the terms of the plea. The agreement will then be submitted to Woodlock for his approval."

The UMass-Dartmouth classmate of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pled guilty on August 21 to conspiracy and obstruction of justice, the sentence for which is 25 years. According to the plea deal, Dias will serve not more than 7 years for disposing of some fireworks that had no connection to the bombing. US Attorney Stephanie Siegmann is asking for all seven years.

"You understand that you're pleading guilty to two charges... those are serious federal charges," Woodlock said, adding that Dias is giving up any and all rights to a full trial.

Dias said, "Yes sir" to the judge that he's giving up his right to challenge the evidence against him.

In agreeing to the plea deal, Dias agreed to be deported after time served. The judge did not make an immediate decision regarding accepting or rejecting the plea bargain.

Dias decided to admit to hiding both Jahar's laptop and backpack. Azamat was found not guilty regarding bringing home the laptop. He was however found guilty of throwing away the backpack despite claims that Dias was the one who tossed it.

"So, today he formally accepted full responsibility for his actions and sincerely apologizes," said defense Attorney Stahl. "Dias now understands he never should have gone to the dorm room... never should have taken any items from that room."

Azamat is to be sentenced Oct. 16. Dias is set to be sentenced Nov. 18.

Dias' father, Murat Kadyrbayav as well as his brother Ablaikhan Ismagulov are in town for the proceedings

Dias Kadyrbayev Agrees to Deportation: Judge Orders Govt to Reveal Expert Witness Positions: Tamerlan’s Widow Living in NJ with Jahar’s Sisters

TMO 

The UMass-

Dartmouth classmate of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pled guilty on August 21, 2014 to conspiracy and obstruction of justice, the sentence for which is 25 years. In a proposed plea bargain, which the judge has not yet ruled on, Dias will serve not more than 7 years for disposing of some fireworks that had no connection to the bombing. US Attorney Stephanie Siegmann is asking for all seven years. Dias, a foreign student from Khazakstan, agreed to be deported after time served. Dias decided to admit to hiding both Jahar’s laptop and backpack.

“You understand that you’re pleading guilty to two charges… those are serious federal charges,” Judge Woodlock said, adding that Dias is giving up any and all rights to a full trial.

Dias said, “Yes sir” to the judge that he’s giving up his right to challenge the evidence against him.

On July 21, 2014, Dias’ former roommate and former cellmate, Azamat Tazhayakov, who pled “Not Guilty” to both counts, was found not guilty by the jury regarding bringing home Jahar’s laptop. He was however found guilty of conspiring to throw away the backpack containing fireworks, despite witness claims that Dias was the one who tossed it. Therefore Dias, who had been pleading innocent based on the argument that he didn’t understand his Miranda rights, realized he was unlikely to get a more favorable outcome to his trial. Dias and Azamat are both being held in solitary confinement.
Azamat, who also faces 25 years, is awaiting sentencing on October 16.

“So, today he formally accepted full responsibility for his actions and sincerely apologizes,” said defense Attorney Stahl in a press conference after the hearing. 

“Dias now understands he never should have gone to the dorm room… never should have taken any items from that room.” Dias is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 18. 

David Frank reported in Mass Lawyers Weekly, “Although Stahl declined to comment on the particulars of the deal until after the hearing, it is likely that the parties have signed some type of written agreement laying out the terms of the plea. The agreement will then be submitted to Woodlock for his approval.”

“It looks like no guarantees and everything is up in the air!” observed Asel, a Canadian supporter from Kyrgyzstan.

Dias’ father, Murat Kadyrbayav as well as Azamat’s younger brother Ablaikhan Ismagulov are in town to attend the ongoing court proceedings. They do not speak English, so they are navigating Boston using an electronic translation device.

Meanwhile the legal proceedings for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are going forward towards his November trial date. On August 18, 2014 Judge George O’Toole ruled at least partially in favor of the defense, ordering that:

“The government made disclosure of affirmative expert discovery summaries pertaining to ballistics, fingerprint, blood, and DNA evidence on June 30, 2014. The defendant complains that the disclosure does not adequately identify what expert testimony the government “intends to use . . . during its case-in-chief at trial,” as required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(a)(1)(G). After review of the index and summaries produced by the government, I agree and the motion (dkt. no. 440) is GRANTED to the extent that the government must identify the expert witnesses it presently intends to call during its case-in-chief at trial and provide summaries of their testimonies. Such summaries must meet the requirements set forth in Rule 16(a)(1)(G). To the extent the motion seeks further relief beyond this, the motion is DENIED.”

Until this point, the US had argued that explaining their case to the defense would deny them the right to surprise. They handed over millions of documents but did not clearly state how they came to the conclusion that Tsarnaev committed the bombing based on this evidence. So far the public is relying on the say-so of the FBI regarding guilt.

The defense continues to press the court to shift the trial to DC instead of Boston.

In another development, Katherine Russell, widow of Tamerlan Tsarnaev and their daughter have been spotted by local media living with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s sisters, Aliana and Bella in North Bergen, NJ. All three women are observing hijab. Katherine reportedly stated that she wants her daughter to grow up in a Muslim home. Katherine probably decided to move out of her parents’ home in Rhode Island due to the constant hounding by paparazzi. The three ladies seem to be living a quiet life, WCVB reports.

Katherine’s legal team says they don’t know if she is currently under investigation. The US attorney’s office won’t comment on that. One of her attorneys, Amato DeLuca says her parents and sisters testified before a grand jury investigating the bombings last year, but Katherine was not called. The fact that she was not called to testify could mean that she is still being considered as a possible target of prosecution for not going to the police when her husband’s face came on TV.

Katherine gave no comment to reporters who asked if she tipped off Tamerlan or had contact with him once the FBI pictures were made public. Her lawyer says when Russell saw the suspects’ pictures released by the FBI, she didn’t know who they were initially.

Ailina faces a trial in Boston next month on charges of misleading police in counterfeit money investigation in 2010. Bella was charged in New Jersey with marijuana possession and intent to distribute marijuana. Prosecutors say the charges will be dismissed if she completes a first time offender program.

Azamat Tazhayakov found guilty of tossing backpack

Muslims are Poorly Defended & Easily Proven Guilty by Association.


Even though Azamat's lawyers argued that it was his friend, Dias Kadyrbayev, who removed Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's backpack containing fireworks from his University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth dorm room, jurors on Monday, July 21, 2014 found Azamat Tazhayakov guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Azamat was however found not guilty regarding the laptop, which was also removed from Dzhokhar's dorm room and kept at Azamat and Dias' New Bedford home until it was handed over to the FBI. The jury agreed with prosecutors that both men shared in the decision to remove the items and get rid of them to hide evidence. Dias' trial will begin in early September. A third friend, Robel Phillipos, charged with lying to investigators, will be tried in late September. The seven men and five women on the jury deliberated for three days.

"My fellow jurors were 100 percent dedicated to doing our job," a juror told legal commentator David Frank, "and that was taking everything else out of consideration and focusing on just the law." The juror also mentioned that the jurors were at 11-1 in favor of guilt that morning before the lone holdout had a change of heart.

Azamat's defense, like most lawyers representing Muslim clients in the US, did not defend the innocence of their client as strenuously as they could have, because they relied on the Constitutional burden of proof being upon the government prosecutors. Traditionally, it is enough to show that the prosecution has a flimsy case.

However, when the defendant is a Muslim tied into a terror case, his innocence needs to be demonstrated to the jury, and sometimes social studies lessons by testifying experts for cultural context are even needed. None of this happened in Azamat's trial. Perhaps it didn't seem necessary because the government witnesses all made Azamat sound like the nicest guy in the world. Still, the defense relied too much on this intellectual subtlety.

"We were all shocked when the prosecution rested and the defense immediately rested," the juror said. "We were like, 'You're not going to put a defense on?' They didn't call a single character witness. Someone said, 'Who could they have called?' How about a professor? How about a neighbor? They called no one."

As the jury announced the verdicts, Azamat put his hands over his face and shook his head. His father, Ismagoulov remained stoic while his mother, Tuyrsynai sobbed loudly, rocking his little sister Almira. Azamat's parents fought hard for him to get a fair and speedy trial. They were in the courtroom at every hearing. His mother often nursed Almira under a shawl to keep her quiet.

According to reporter Kevin Cullen, "She grabbed their 2-year-old daughter, Almira, put her on her lap, then covered Almira with a brightly covered scarf, as if to shield her from what was about to happen... In that moment before the verdict was read, in that brief slice of silence, the tinny voice of Almira leaked from beneath the scarf: she was singing."

"Azamat's mother speaks no English, and her reaction was delayed, as she listened to the translation. The translator's words spilled from her headset and she bent forward, as if she'd been punched. She dropped the scarf, and Almira stared up, uncomprehending.

Tuyrsynai rocked back and forth, keening. Almira climbed down and grabbed the headset her mother had dropped. She put the headset on, as if it would help her understand what was making her mother cry. No longer a cloak, the scarf became a handkerchief, and Tuyrsynai daubed her eyes. 'Mama,' Almira said, looking up, smiling. Her innocence stood in stark, striking contrast to what the jury just decided her brother had done."

Tazhayakov faces a possible 20-year prison sentence for obstruction of justice and a five-year maximum for conspiracy but the defense will ask for time served, which would be 1 1/2 years by the time of sentencing, which is scheduled for October 16, 2014.

The jury may have been influenced by a surveillance video taken the day after the Boston Marathon bombings, which shows Azamat walking with Dzhokhar into the student gym and exiting later. They both appear relaxed and acting normal. However, the video when released to the public received harsh reviews from outraged people assuming the guilt of the bombing suspect, accusing Dzhokhar of having a "smirk" on his face. The intent of the video was to demonstrate his friendship with Azamat.

"Aza is a good kid and he has no priors. I expect the friends will all have to serve some time. They all committed crimes and there is no way around that. Even if they are only found guilty of lesser charges, they are legit charges. So pray for his family. Send him kind, comforting words. And be patient," urged an anonymous friend.

One of Azamat's lawyers, Nicholas Wooldridge, said he will ask the judge to sentence his client to time served. He suggested to the media that the jurors were under pressure to render a verdict against Azamat.

http://newtrendmag.org/ntma1560.htm

Trial Begins for Azamat Tazhayakov

Boston, Massachusetts: USA

Innocents be dragged in: Young People's Guilt by Association
by Sis. Karin Friedemann 

A foreign student from Kazakhstan, Azamat Tazhayakov, age 20, is facing 25 years in prison for "obstruction of justice" and lying to the FBI. Dzhokhar (Jahar) Tsarnaev texted a mutual friend, Dias Kadyrbayev around the same time as his photo was released to the public as a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, saying "If you want, you can go to my room and take what's there," followed by a blushing smiley face, which defense attorney Wooldridge said was a symbol that meant marijuana to the friends.

The UMass Dartmouth students are accused of going into Jahar's dorm room along with a third friend, Robel Philipos, taking Tsarnaev's laptop and disposing of Tsarnaev's backpack, which contained fireworks. The three friends are to be tried separately. Azamat's father, a wealthy oil man and local Khazak politician, insisted on a speedy trial even though the attorneys wanted more time to prepare, so Azamat's trial comes first.

"The government will prove to you that the defendant and his co-conspirator removed the backpack for one reason, and that reason was to protect their friend who they had just learned was one of the two suspected Marathon bombers," said US assistant attorney Stephanie Siegmann in her opening statement.

The first witness was Andrew Dwinells, Jahar's roommate, who testified that Dias showed him a text that said something about Jahar leaving the country and he won't be back so Dias can go ahead and take what he wants.

Andrew testified that he saw Dias go into a drawer and take a bag of pot while the other two watched TV. He testified that he did not see any of the friends take the backpack or the computer. He never saw Jahar with any pressure cooker, BBs, or bomb making material. He also said Jahar acted normally after the marathon. Andrew says he didn't think Jahar was a terrorist. Andrew testified that he and Jahar once discussed the theory that 9/11 was a government conspiracy.

The next witness was Alexa Guevara, another UMass Dartmouth student. She said her girlfriends called Azamat "Mama's Boy" because he was always the good one among the friends. She also testified that Jahar never said anything anti-American to her. Alexa's eyes teared up when testifying that she never thought Jahar could do anything like that. Even after the FBI released Jahar's picture she did not believe it.

FBI Agent Sara Wood next testified that Azamat had told her that Dias showed him a text from Jahar on the evening of April 18, 2013 saying that he did the bombing. However, the FBI has not been able to produce this text, despite their thorough investigation of the boys' cell phones and computers.

Defense attorney Myers aggressively questioned Wood as to why she looked at the prosecutor when answering whether Azamat said he or Dias took the backpack.

The defense also suggested that FBI agents did not allow Azamat to use the bathroom until he signed a waiver of his rights.

Dias' partner, Bayan Kumiskali gave testimony on video as a cooperating witness. "The black-haired beauty from Kazakhstan attended Babson College while Dias was at UMass with Tsarnaev," tweeted journalist Laurel J. Sweet.

Bayan said she didn't want any of that stuff that was taken from Jahar's dorm room. On 4/18, she was in the New Bedford apartment and Dias left for about 1.5 hours starting around 9:30pm. Dias told her he had Jahar's backpack in the privacy of the bedroom later that night. She was "mad" when she heard this and told him to "get it out of here."

"He hadn't thought this might be something." she said.

The most clear proof that the boys did not intend to obstruct justice is the fact that inside the backpack was Jahar's homework assignment. They were clearly not hiding evidence. As an engineering major, Jahar's roommate Andrew owned a lab kit, which contained wire, wire cutters, and other items. The kit was in plain sight on his bookcase on the 18th, but Dzhokhar's three friends did not take it.

Most likely, they literally took what they wanted from Jahar's room because they knew he wasn't coming back: a laptop, marijuana, fireworks, a thumb drive, a spiral notebook and a jar of Vaseline. Most likely they took the fireworks because they wanted them.

However, they didn't take all the fireworks. The FBI also admitted in testimony last week that more fireworks were found in the dorm room. FBI agent David McCollan testified that the fireworks were torn but some explosive powder remained. Even though fireworks are not an efficient source of bomb making material, one would think that if the fireworks were used to make a bomb they would be cut cleanly at the top and completely emptied out.

Neither Aza nor Dias threw away the computer. The thumb drive was found in the trash but if there was any incriminating evidence on it I'm sure we would have learned of it.

The most incriminating thing Azamat could come up with to say to the FBI about his friend was, "that Jahar had a 'little black gun' that shot pellets, and he once witnessed him shoot at a plastic bottle.

1st BMB Trial Commences as Jahar’s Birthday Approaches

July 17, 2014 by TMO 

The trial of Azamat Tazhayakov began July 7 and is expected to conclude next week. Azamat along with two other friends, Dias Kadyrbayev and Robel Philipos are accused of concealing evidence from the FBI in relation to their pursuit of his friend, Dzhokhar (Jahar) Tsarnaev, who is accused of bombing the Boston Marathon in April 2013. Dias and Robel will be tried separately. Azamat’s father, a wealthy oil man and local Khazak politician, insisted on a speedy trial even though the attorneys wanted more time to prepare, so Azamat’s trial comes first.

“The government will prove to you that the defendant and his co-conspirator removed the backpack for one reason, and that reason was to protect their friend who they had just learned was one of the two suspected Marathon bombers,” said US assistant attorney Stephanie Siegmann in her opening statement.

A number of mutual friends were subpoenaed as witnesses. Without exception they testified that Jahar was not acting strangely after the bombings, that he had never said anything anti-American, he had never been seen with a pressure cooker, BBs or bomb making material, that they could not believe he was a terrorist, and that his friends had gone into Jahar’s dorm room to take marijuana after receiving a message from Jahar saying “take whatever you want.” They were all under the impression that Jahar was leaving the country. Dias Kadyrbayev removed some fireworks from the room, but not all of the fireworks. He also took a laptop, a spiral notebook, a thumb drive, and a jar of Vaseline and took them home to the New Bedford, Massachusetts apartment he shared with Azamat. FBI testimony revealed that there were still other fireworks found in the apartment.

Only after Dias’ girlfriend Bayan Kumiskali told him to “get rid of it” did Dias throw away the bag with fireworks, but he kept the laptop. It had not occurred to him that these items could be evidence of anything. It does not appear that he was trying to conceal evidence, since he threw away Jahar’s homework assignment in the same bag. Azamat’s defense also argued that Azamat never threw away the bag, it was Dias who did.

As an engineering major, Jahar’s roommate Andrew Dwinells owned a lab kit, which contained wire, wire cutters, and other items. The kit was in plain sight on his bookcase on the 18th, but Dzhokhar’s three friends did not take it.

A number of FBI agents gave testimony that was often contradictory. The “white hat” that they had removed from the apartment as evidence had a different number on it than the hat in the surveillance photo. Agent Walker gave testimony that contradicted his previous testimony. He now “doesn’t recall” many things he said it pretrial testimony. Agent Walker says he could have arrested the men on 4/19/13 but then admitted he testified previously he had no basis to arrest them. The FBI admitted there’s no evidence Azamat knew about the bombing, though earlier Agent Walker testified that Azamat had done web searches for Tsarnaev before he had been identified as a suspect. Defense attorney Wooldridge asks Agent Walker if he realized the media had previously misidentified suspects in bombing. Walker says he was “not aware of this.”

On Monday, July 14 the defense and prosecution rested their cases. Judge Woodlock told the jury the burden of proof is on the government, and that they should not hold Azamat’s decision not to testify against him. The judge referred to the possible defense view that Azamat’s actions on 4/18/13 were related to hiding drug activity, not terrorism. Closing arguments are to take place Wednesday July 16.

Jahar Supporters Initiate Birthday Campaign 2014

This July 22 will be Dzokhar (Jahar) Tsarnaev’s second birthday in prison held in solitary confinement. He will be 21 years old. Since he cannot receive cards, letters, gifts or any other kind of birthday wishes, Amber Bishop from the Free Jahar movement has come up with the perfect way to let him know how much people care about him.

The group is asking people to do magnificent works of charity in Jahar’s name. ”This could mean donating to a charity, taking snacks to your local fire department, handing out balloons to children in the hospital, giving a flower to random passersby, helping someone to their car or carrying their groceries. Mow someone’s lawn for free. Take food to the food pantry. If all you have to offer is prayers, then pray for someone. The sky is the limit when it comes to being kind.”

Amber is creating a scrapbook of everyone’s “amazing deeds” that will be given to his sister, who promised to tell him all about it when she visits him in prison.

“The prosecution contends that Jahar inspires people. Let’s show them how right they are,” writes Amber. “You may be wondering how this campaign “helps” him. Just imagine if when arguing his character at the SAMs hearing and how he could potentially inspire others to continue his work, the defense can produce a book full of heart-felt, charitable deeds that our sweet boy has inspired us to do… He can only do these things through us, so don’t let him down.”

The Tsarnaev family likes charities that feed the hungry. They suggested sending money to the needy in Syria, but they also mentioned that they care deeply about Africa, Palestine, and Pakistan.

“A small act of kindness can go a long way in this world. It can start a chain reaction of good deeds. “I can’t wait to see what you send!” writes Amber. She suggests sending donations in his name, when possible, or letting people know you are doing this deed for Jahar in some way.

If you would like to contribute to this effort, message Amber Bishop on facebook or send an email to acbishop74@yahoo.com

Updates on Jahar's friends

Fallout from Marathon bombing case: Innocents snared and Imprisoned 

Updates on Jahar's friends 
Karin Friedemann
Matanov Commissary Fund Started

An account has been opened for Khairullozhon Matanov's commissary fund. He will need money to buy things like soap, toothpaste and snacks. Elena Teyer, Ibrahim Todashev's mother-in-law, made a donation of $50.

If you would like to deposit money into Khair's commissary fund, just click the link, register and you can enter either his last name or his register number. The facility is Plymouth County Sheriffs Dept. It is very simple. Thank you so much for anything you can do to help this young man, but do not send large amounts of money or else it could be used to deny him access to his government-appointed lawyer.

https://www.accesscorrections.com/index.php 

To write to Mr. Matanov, address letter to:

Khairullozhon Matanov # 65363?, Unit GSE, Room # 107, ?PCCF, ?26 Long Pond Road, ?Plymouth, MA 02360

Matanov Neighbor Speaks Out

"We would always say hi to each other in the hallway or parking lot!" stated Aurora, a woman who lived in the same apartment building as Khair.

"I have to say, he is a kid with a big smile, full of life and very presentable. He's not the average 23 year old guy, very classy person, and cleaned up, very high maintenance. I really hope everything sorts out and this kid gets his life back! We need intelligent people walking on the street, not bums or thugs... He is innocent till proven guilty!"

"I knew him a bit, just hi and hello cause I always worked and so did he, so we barely even saw each other in the building, but he always was friendly and never gave me the impression that he was being watched. He was always happy, a kid!

She also mentioned that Khair's roommate hasn't been seen since Khair's arrest. This is somewhat worrying since all of the other Russian-speaking friends of friends of Jahar or Tamerlan Tsarnaev - even those who didn't even know the Tsarnaevs - have been detained and/or deported from both Massachusetts and Florida.

Bayan Kumiskali to testify at roommate Azamat Tazayhakov's trial

The government plans to call Bayan Kumiskali, the long time (six years) partner of Dias Kadyrbayev, as a witness for the upcoming trial of UMass student Azamat Tazayhakov, who rented a room in their apartment. She received immunity in exchange for her testimony. She was already called in front of the Grand Jury before. The defense once mentioned that Bayan said she had seen cameras and they had recorded their interviews, so her testimony may be helpful to the defense.

Dias and Azamat Separated

Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazayhakov, who have been sharing a cell at the Essex County Jail in Middleton, MA will return to their former separate cells that they were put in when first arrested. Dias is in unit 120a Cell 115 and Aza is unit 120a Cell 110. The judge said in the beginning that they would be separated again closer to trial, as they are being tried separately, so this was expected.

Azamat Defense Proposes Jury Instruction

In a highly creative move, Attorney Nicholas Wooldridge submitted 41 statements that the defense asks to be shown to the jury as additional instruction.

"Since the indictment is not evidence and since it does not purport to prove or even indicate evidence against the defendant, you are to give no weight whatsoever to it. Every defendant begins trial with an absolutely clean slate and without any evidence against him. Remember that those are merely accusations. What matters is the evidence, or lack thereof, that you heard in the trial," reads a document presented by Azamat Tazayhakov's defense team.

"A person has no legal obligation to voluntarily provide information or things requested by investigators," it reads.

Most of the document has a very general tone instructing jurors on the concept of US Law but Request #21 gets so specific to the case it's inflammatory!

"Caution as to Witness Who Received Immunity: "You have heard the testimony of Bayan Kumiskali. She provided evidence under an immunity agreement with the government. Some people in this position are entirely truthful when testifying. Still, you should consider the testimony of this individual with particular caution given that she was given an agreement from the government not to be prosecuted for her role in the alleged conduct. They may have had reason to make up stories or exaggerate what others did because they wanted to help themselves."

This entire document seems like a very unique approach to attempting to publicize the defense point of view. See:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/229013545/Doc-239-Proposed-Jury-Intructions-on-Behalf-of-Azamat-Tazhayakov-060914 

2014-06-15 Sun 08:10:04 cdt 
NewTrendMag.org

Tsarnaev Friend Testifies

TMO 

Dias

The Dorchester Day Parade this year in Boston took place on Sunday, June 1. There was a special contingent representing the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation (Team MR8), a marathon racing team comprised mainly of runners from Dorchester, Massachusetts, the Boston neighborhood of the 8 year old boy who was killed in the Marathon bombing of 2013. A bus containing his family members, including his sister Jane who lost her leg, participated in the parade. The bus was decorated with the word “peace” and “no more hurting people,” recalling a popular drawing by Martin.

Meanwhile the drama continued in court with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s friends. On June 2, 2014 Dias Kadyrbayev testified that he did not understand what was going on when he waived his Miranda rights, and that he was intimidated into cooperating with searches of his home.

“I could only understand about 2/3 of what he was saying” stated Kate, who observed the hearing but had trouble following Dias’ thick Russian accent.

The morning started off with linguist Dr. Aneta Pavlenko of Temple University testifying for over two hours as an expert witness on the defendant’s level of English proficiency. 

“His proficiency was not adequate to understand the complexity of the Miranda warning,” Pavelenko testified. “Government agents are not competent to determine proficiency of understanding.” 

She said Dias should have been provided with a translator and asked to restate the Miranda warning in his own words.

A couple emails as well as an essay were shown as evidence of Dias’ ability or lack thereof. Prosecutors argued that mistakes were just typos while the expert witness pointed out patterns of linguistic usage that would indicate an Intermediate level of proficiency in the English language. Dr. Pavelenko testified that the defense relied on emails to determine Dias’ level of English ability up to the date of the arrest because they show his spontaneous use of language.

There was an English essay under dispute, which contained no major errors. Dr. Pavelenko testified that this essay could not have been written by the defendant by himself. Later, Dias testified that he got help from English speaking friends. He wrote his homework assignments using google translate, and by changing online examples of essays with a computer app.

Next on the stand, Dias stated that Russian was his first language, Khazar was his second and English was his third language. He studied English in grades 6-11 from a teacher who was Russian. Originally he had hoped to go to MIT but scored poorly on the SAT in English. UMass Dartmouth was more lenient.

Living on campus, Dias said, “I was chilling with Russians mostly.” He had trouble talking on the phone – he would hang up on friends and text them instead. He learned slang words like “what’s up” from listening. In prison he has been studying the dictionary and for the SAT and has read 76 books in English to improve his skills.

Dias, his girlfriend Bayan, and Azamat Tazhayakov shared an apartment in Bedford, MA in 2012. Azamat’s phone was charging when a friend via VK (Russian version of Facebook) told Azamat a police officer called. He called back. Police had already questioned Saghar, an Indian friend, so they were expecting the police to similarly come over in 15 minutes to ask questions. Five hours later Bayan looked outside and saw 4 police cars and a SWAT team aiming their guns at them, the lasers’ red dots were on Bayan. Azamat came into the room and Dias told him not to move because he was afraid the police would shoot anyone who moved.

The police were yelling, “Jahar come out!” The students came out with their hands up,  Azamat first. They made them take off their shirts and pull down their pants, then handcuffed Dias so roughly that he was forced to kneel. He was put in the back seat of a car for three hours with a sniper standing a foot away from his open door. FBI agent John Walker sat in the front of the car and said, “Listen to me, where the **** is Jahar, don’t **** with me, tell me where the **** he is!”

“I kept on saying ‘I don’t know, I don’t know.’ I was scared,” Dias testified. “I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

It seemed like Walker was “looking through me.” His “vibe” was very alarming in its “intensity,” Dias said.

Walker asked if he could look in the house for Jahar, in case he left something dangerous. “I didn’t think there was anything dangerous in the apartment.” said Dias. He gave Walker his keys so the FBI could search the house without breaking the door. Walker took ten minutes to cut off the tight “plastic hangers” (handcuffs) with a knife, which left a mark on his hand. He was asked to sign a consent to search the property.

“Maybe I read the paper or maybe I didn’t, but I signed it to end the conversation.” Dias testified. He was re-handcuffed and transferred to a police car, where he heard on the radio that they caught Jahar.

“Can I go now since you got him?” he asked the police. Maybe, maybe not, he was told.

“When will we go go? Where are we going?” We gotta wait, he was told. “It was clear I couldn’t go.”

At the police barracks he was interrogated by Special Agent Azad. Dias stated that “he went on putting words in my mouth.” After other officers later showed Dias the notes special agents took during interrogation, Dias noticed words he didn’t recognize in English.

He was never told he was under arrest. He was told, “Don’t worry, school issues,” as he was handcuffed. When Dias noticed the word lawyer on Miranda form and asked if he needed one, Agent Azad said “Oh no, you’re fine. You’re helping us.”

Dias asked “what do you mean ‘in custody’?”

“Regardless of how well he spoke and understood English at the time, it’s been established that FBI agents specifically altered and added to Dias’s responses during the interrogation to things he never said,” court observer Jill told TMO.

The government alleges that at 3:30am on April 19, 2013, before Tsarnaev’s name was released to the public, Dias told associate on VK that Jahar was the bomber. What Dias actually said was that he recognized Jahar as the guy in the white hat on TV.

The government also stated that after visiting Jahar on April 18, Dias visited multiple English websites: FBI, CNN, FoxNews, NewYorker, CBSlocal, WCVB, FBI again, and googled variations of Jahar’s name.

Dias will continue to testify on June 3. A bail hearing for Khairullozhon Matanov, a fourth friend of Jahar’s who was arrested last week will take place June 4.

Homeland Security Agent Caught Lying at Hearing

TMO 

Robel Phillipos (center) arrives for a hearing in his case at the federal courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts May 13, 2014. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Three friends of Dzhokhar (Jahar) Tsarnaev: Dias Kadyrbayev, Azamat Tazhayakov, and Robel Phillipos went before Judge Woodlock May 13-15, 2014 and sat through three full consecutive days of FBI and Homeland Security testimony. Dias Kadyrbayev was poised to testify regarding the nature of his detainment, interrogation, and arrest, but did not end up testifying.

There were only a few observers in the courtroom other than the media; Boston marathon bombing victim Marc Fucarile, and a few family members and friends of the defense. Dias and Azamat, accused of obstructing justice, and Robel, accused of lying to the FBI, had filed motions to dismiss the charges, which Judge Woodlock denied. He agreed to hold three separate trials for the defendants. Azamat will go first on June 30, 2014, followed by Dias on September 8 and Robel September 29. The judge denied the defense request for a trial outside Boston.

Most of the hearing focused on whether or not statements made by the defense while in custody of the FBI were voluntary, when they were detained without a warrant from 9pm until 5am the night of April 19, 2013. There was also the issue of whether or not their English was sufficient to understand what was going on and what they were signing.

The apartment near UMass Dartmouth was shared by the three students. They had a group cell phone plan that was billed to the home under the name Tsarnaev. A couple hours after police killed Jahar’s brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, while Jahar was still on the run, one of these phones was used in the New Bedford home at 10:06am on April 19. It was Azamat calling his mom in Khazakstan. Shortly after Tamerlan was announced dead on TV, someone used the phone to text his parents in Dagestan. The FBI sent a SWAT team to raid the house without a warrant. Jahar was not there, but Dias, Azamat and Bayan were taken into FBI custody.

FBI Agent Walker testified that they were not under arrest, but they had accepted an “invitation to talk” at the police barracks in North Dartmouth. Walker said he was “not sure” if they were read their Miranda rights before they confessed to removing a backpack full of spent fireworks from the home, or before signing documents giving permission to search their computer, apartment and car. The boys were friendly and cooperative. While they were there, Dias’ attorney called saying he wanted to represent the boys but they were not informed of this. Dias had asked, “Do we need a lawyer?” and was told, “We can’t offer legal advice.”

FBI agent Azad testified that he told them they were not under arrest. They were having a friendly back and forth conversation. Dias asked repeatedly to see his girlfriend, Bayan, and was told, “Soon.” He also asked, “Are we almost done?”

At one point, Dias said, “I think we are being held against our will.” Walker testified that the FBI called a taxi, which pulled up out front, but could not explain why the boys did not get in. Attorney Stahl clarified that the FBI had taken away their wallets and keys.

Stahl asked why they did not arrest the boys. Walker said they were not sure if they had probable cause. They were waiting for the District Attorney’s office to tell them how to proceed.

Azamat’s attorney Nicholas Wooldridge cross examined Walker. “If you believe there is probable cause, you don’t need to consult with prosecutor.”

Walker responded, “We preferred to consult with DA first.”

Stahl asked FBI Agent Serillo, “Did Dias ask for a shirt or blanket?” Serilla answered, “I don’t recall.”

“The agents honestly felt scripted and were repeatedly thrown off by Stahl’s questions, answering, ‘I don’t recall…,’” court observer Jennifer told TMO.

Early in the morning, six FBI agents in 3 cars drove the boys home. They entered the home with their permission and removed two items belonging to Jahar: a baseball cap and an ashtray.

That same afternoon, the home was raided again by 12 government agents. FBI agents Quinn and Azad interviewed them for one hour. Azad testified that the boys had a “friendly and pleasant demeanor” and “had no idea what was to come.”

After they signed a consent for the FBI to search the apartment, they were handcuffed. Even though it is not normal for Homeland Security to deal with such technical matters, Homeland Security Agent Wiroll arrested them for student visa violations. He read their Miranda rights but there was no Russian translator present. The boys were forced at gunpoint to remove their shirts and walk backwards out of the apartment with their hands in the air. Even though Dias was handcuffed and put in the back of a police car, Walker testified that he was free to leave anytime he wanted, if he just had said, “I want to leave.”

In the back of the car, Walker told Dias, “Jahar’s life is over. Whether he’s still living or not, his life is over. He’s dead one way or another. Your life is not over. Yours doesn’t have to be. You must tell the truth. You have to tell me right now. Don’t make a mistake.” 

“It was disturbing to hear him to say it like that,” a supporter named Ana told TMO. “But in a way he is doing whatever he can to get this to be fair to the boys. He is responsible for their arrest.” 

Homeland Security agent Jameson Wiroll testified for at least 15 minutes that Dias did not need help with translating and that no Russian was spoken. But when Wiroll was double cross examined, he changed his story regarding whether or not Dias needed help with translation before he signed documents including a highly unusual immigration form where he “confesses” to throwing away the fireworks (something an FBI agent told the HSI agent to add). 

“It is not normal to include extra information not related to the subject a person was brought in for,” observed Attorney Stahl. Wiroll testified that he added it as “background information.” Stahl then pointed out on the same document that the Consul from Khazakstan was present and had helped with translating. The Judge said, “I’m confused.” Wiroll then admitted that Russian was spoken and they needed help with translation. 

Wiroll has a history of giving false testimony. He was named as a defendant in a 4th amendment violation civil case against the town of Rockport filed by James Atkinson involving a 2009 weapons case where all the charges against Atkinson were dropped because the local cops and FBI were found to have fabricated evidence, and used illegal wiretapping. 

According to a government transcript of a phone call from the Essex County jail to Bayan on May 24, 2013, Dias lamented about how he was treated after he had fully cooperated with law enforcement. “Everything that we did — everything that I did, everything that I signed, I signed it on my own. They asked me, right, “Will you give permission?” and I gave. But, then how they [trashed the place]… like pigs.”

Pre-Trial for Tsarnaev Friends Proceeds

January 23, 2014 by TMO 

US prosecutors and defense attorneys for Dias Kadyrbayev, Azamat Tazhayakov and Robel Phillipos faced Judge Douglas Woodlock on January 15, 2014 at Moakely Federal Courthouse in Boston.

Dias’ lawyer Robert Stahl began the pre-trial hearing by complaining that the defense needs more time to go through the 3 million pages of discovery documents the government provided to them in a compressed zip file, which is not searchable with a browser. They must click on each file to open it. The evidence includes forensic imaging from computers and cell phones, including text messages in Russian.

“People can use some judgment,” the judge said. “I don’t buy into the idea that when the government dumps a lot of stuff on you that imposes an obligation on you to spend endless hours reviewing everything.”

Stahl argued that the defense interpretation of text messages in the indictment differs from that of the government. In order to understand whether or not there was knowledge about the bombing or any intent to dispose of evidence, we need to know the context and background of the conversation, including the the boys’ relationships. For example, Dzhokhar’s text message saying they could take what they wanted from his room should be interpreted in light of the college students’ use of marijuana. If the related evidence can demonstrate that Dzhokhar was not understood to be advising the friends to remove bomb making materials from the room, the defense will consider filing a motion to suppress this statement from the record of evidence. Stahl stated he wants the same ability to access relevant information as the government.

Judge Woodlock felt that this analysis went beyond the scope of the indictment, but told US attorneys, “The defense is entitled to see what evidence you are using.” He gave the government five days to provide the defense with whatever keyword search engine they are using. He lectured the attorneys that the case needs to be focused and proceed in a timely manner. He ordered the government to supply a witness list by January 31 as well as a list of which exhibits out of the 800,000 they submitted as evidence will actually be used in the trial and gave the same deadline for discovery requests from the defense.

Stahl continued to argue, saying that he could not know what more to ask for in terms of information until after he had gone through all the available evidence. He said this is a very complex case, given its relationship with the ongoing marathon bombing trial.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t review things because what I don’t know is what comes back and hurts me,” said the attorney. “We have one chance and it has to be done right.”

However, the judge dismissed him. “The issues that are involved here have to deal with something very specific.”

According to earlier reports, the FBI showed up at the boys’ apartment on April 19 armed and wearing masks. Stahl said that if the FBI report is accurate, the boys were taken away from their home at gunpoint, not arrested but held for hours before being taken to state police barracks.

Stahl said that the FBI does not record statements, they write up a report afterwards. So even though they have the FBI report, the defense would also like notes and reports from other agencies and witnesses who were present during the interrogation that might provide exculpatory evidence. The state police station videotape recorded the interview and there were other witnesses present, who were not mentioned on the FBI report since they were outside the room, but who were aware of the interrogation.

The judge insisted that the FBI is not obligated to provide any recordings of their interviews. He stated, unconvincingly, that the information that could be provided by state police is not relevant in federal court. He conceded that the timing and issuing of proper Miranda warning could influence whether evidence is permissible.

Stahl then argued that one of the witnesses who testified before the grand jury disputed the government’s version of events, but her statement is under seal. The defense wants to be able to use her testimony.

Nicholas Wooldridge, Azamat’s attorney, said the unnamed witness could provide “one of the central pieces” of a motion to suppress evidence, namely the confession statements the boys were forced to sign.

The judge told them to either file a motion to unseal the deposition or else submit their arguments to the judge under seal.

Robel’s lawyer said he plans to file a motion to dismiss, saying the charges don’t meet legal requirements of demonstrating intent to obstruct justice or failure to provide material regarding the bombing investigation. He argued that Robel was not in the room when the other two discussed what to do with Dzhokhar’s backpack.

The judge made a series of deadlines for evidence to be submitted, government responses, motions to compel, dismiss, change venue or to separate defendants’ trials. A conference hearing is scheduled for March 10. He rejected Dias and Robel’s request for a January 2015 trial date and set a date in July in accordance with Azamat’s wishes.

However, US attorney Siegmann then derailed the discussion by making an exaggerated facial expression rather than standing to speak – the second time she has behaved in such an obviously unprofessional manner with a judge during this case.

Judge Woodlock interrupted proceedings to say, “I see this pained expression in your face!” Siegmann stated that she has this expensive vacation planned, so the judge changed the date to early August.

Robel’s lawyer then stood and said he had a vacation planned for early August, hoping to defer the trial until September, but Woodlock got tough.

“We’re making it closer, not farther away,” the judge said. He scheduled the trial for June 23. The trial is expected to last 2-3 weeks.

After the hearing, TMO asked Stahl, “Shouldn’t the burden be upon the government to demonstrate that the fireworks were related to the bombing?”

The attorney answered, “One would think!”

Robel’s lawyer encouraged supporters after the hearing to post positive comments on sites like the Boston Globe and Herald, because locals read these rather than the websites dedicated to this case. Robel’s mother thanked friends for their encouraging letters to her son, saying they meant a lot to him.

“I think this is a far-ranging case – only the surface has been scratched,” Stahl told reporters outside. When asked, “How is your client?” Stahl responded:  

“He is strong. He is getting more strong as time goes by, because he has to. Obviously, this is very difficult. His family is not here. His family is having trouble getting visas granted from the United States to come back here, so that makes it that much more difficult. Imagine if you were overseas with no friends or family members there to even visit you. As time goes by we are just as eager to see a speedy and correct and positive resolution to this matter.” 

Azamat’s father, Amir Ismagulov told reporters through his attorney and translator that he welcomed the news of the June trial date.

“We felt it was our first victory on this case,” he said. “We felt this was a great victory for Boston to know the truth nine months earlier… Our sons feel they didn’t harm this city and country, and they never felt they did something negative or harmful.”

Azamat’s father told reporters that his son is now in the general prison population. He has been receiving his books like he is supposed to. He is also going to the going to the library and using the gym. He added that the people they have met these past 9 months in Boston are some of the nicest people he has ever met.

Free Jahar Movement–Spirituality & Politics

January 16, 2014 by TMO 

File: Dzhokhar (Jahar) Tsarnaev appearing before US Magistrate Marianne Bowler in the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston for his arraignment.

“I don’t argue with fools who say islam is terrorism it’s not worth a thing, let an idiot remain an idiot” – January 16, 2013 tweet by Jahar @J_tsar

While mainstream media maligns the Tsarnaev brothers as the Chechen terrorists who bombed the Boston marathon long before any convincing evidence has been presented in a court of law, a strong social undercurrent questioning the official version of events has spontaneously, pretty much miraculously emerged without any organization, and without any funding. The Free Jahar movement also supports Jahar’s imprisoned best friends Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, foreign students from Khazakstan, and the family of Tamerlan’s friend Ibrahim Todashev who was murdered in Orlando by the Boston FBI. Thousands of young people, mostly women in their early 20s, impeccably groomed for their online profile photos and savvy with all the modern technology – most of whom have never met each other before – are now enthusiastically and internationally networking. Nothing like this has ever happened before in history.

Baffled and disturbed by the revelation that they can no longer keep up with the latest technology young people are using today, and are thus no longer able to control public opinion, the outdated pro-FBI mainstream media has obnoxiously mocked and dismissed “Jahar’s Army” as a bunch of silly “fangirls” crazed by the boy’s good looks.

However, a closer look reveals that this depiction is inaccurate. The Free Jahar movement is one of the most unique social justice movements that the world has ever seen – nearly all female and fiercely maternal in its passion to protect the innocent:

“Jahar, We will be your voice while your own is taken. Trust in us. We are here. We love you. We will make it right. Justice will be yours.”

Luna, a Native American single mother of four living in Oklahoma who administrates the group Ohana along with Jahar’s sisters, Ibrahim’s widow and her mother, told TMO she had used google translate to locate them, as well as friends and relatives of Azamat and Dias via the Russian social media network VK and invited them to join Facebook. She said she is now “more aware of how the government and courts work” because of this “girl community.”

Alice in New Zealand told TMO, “Like most people, prior to the bombings I sort of took everything on ‘face value’ and believed everything that was shown to me. In a strange way Jahar and his family showed me the truth, if you will, and made me see otherwise… I’m forever grateful for my eyes being opened to it as a result of everything I’ve learned from this case, it’s given my heart so much love and compassion towards Muslims because they deal with so much more than the average person. It’s been the turning point in my life and changed how I see the world and has made me into a better person.”

Every generation has to realize the fact that governments lie. But unlike my generation, instead of despair, this generation of wonderful young people came up with this idea that if we love Jahar, we are no longer alone in this world. Upon believing in Jahar’s innocence, an intensely affectionate global family is formed, whose electronic (((hugs))) are like a tidal wave of divine love washing over this world. Jahar in his true suffering has undeniably and deeply blessed countless lives. He is almost like a Christ figure.

“He was chosen by the higher powers to be – Our makers, We call God, to Wake up the Sheep and turn them into Lions – hear them ROAR !!!” posts Unique Firefly of Florida.

“He has the character of the best person who could exist. Anyone who sees him falls in love with him. Dzhokhar, he is a gift from Allah, not just because he is my son – he is like an angel, this child. The Americans know him better than I do. They taught him. He was in the newspapers everywhere: he was excellent, good, kind. He worked all the time. In his extra moments, he worked so that things would not be difficult for us, his parents. He didn’t keep a penny for himself. This kind of child. You understand,” stated his father Anzor Tsarnaev via let-goletgod.

Most political prisoner support movements in the west have tended to be organized by aging secular leftists who attend meetings, pen statements, organize conferences and demonstrate on the street. The culture of this new movement is very, very different from traditional protest movements. This global women-led cultural movement is charged by prayers for peace and healing, respect for Christian and Muslim values, emotional support for each other, and unconditional, passionate respect for Jahar’s family and friends.

North American Jahar supporters have often found that the world has suddenly opened up for them, as they familiarize themselves with Muslim customs and world geography and learn about history and geopolitics from their new friends around the world.

“Yeah I had no idea Asians lived in Khazakstan!” laughs Jill of Massachusetts.

“You know what I truly admire, whenever it’s their time to pray no matter wherever they are they will stop and pray. Love it,” comments Sharon in Vancouver.

Jahar’s supporters do their share of letter writing and strive to attend status hearings, but their fight to influence public opinion takes place mostly in online forums. Unlike most prisoner support movements that hinge on court dates and then fizzle out, the Jahar groups are active around the clock. Communication takes place on Facebook, Twitter, and other apps that only young people have heard of. The largest Facebook group, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is Innocent, has over 17,000 members and continues to grow. While the group’s political influence on matters of US justice is unclear, Jahar himself has received so many gifts to his prison commissary that he has begged supporters to stop sending money or he might lose his state-funded attorneys!

They don’t just circulate news articles, court documents, and action alerts. Participants post a steady stream of family photos, personal anecdotes, pictures of lions (Jahar’s Twitter symbol), and even poor Ibrahim’s cat, Todashev Pisu Ibragimovich, curled up asleep in the bathroom sink, who misses his daddy very much. The group follows status updates from the Tsarnaev sisters with the same level of excitement other women might reserve for the Kardashians. They look up to Jahar’s mother Zubeida as a source of beauty, strength, courage and advice.

“Zubi told me how her kids are nice and she said I’m nice like her kids. And I’ve read that in Islam you have to be nice to everyone,” Maria from Kosova told TMO. The movement has indeed evolved into something indescribable that’s all about emotionally supporting complete strangers.

Whenever someone loses a family member, falls ill, gets pregnant or goes through a break-up, she receives prayers and best wishes from all around the world. They send each other birthday cards, thank you cards, I love you cards, and even Christmas presents for each others’ children. If a young lady posts a “selfie,” she is told how beautiful she is, inside and out. They visit their new friends while traveling, and confide in each other on personal matters. During the boys’ court hearings, women around the world hover around Twitter for updates, trying to decipher the legal jargon.

Kimberly in Ohio told TMO that “the ‘event’ has had a great impact in many ways on my previously held beliefs… the Boston Bombing has drastically changed my heart and opened my mind about so many things, that I don’t know where to begin, to end…”

Tsarnaev Friends’ Hearing Secretly Rescheduled

November 7, 2013 by TMO 

Boston Marathon bombing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (second from right) stands with Azamat Tazhayakov (second from left) and Dias Kadyrbayev (center) in Times Square.

Supporters of Azamat Tazhayakov, Dias Kadyrbayev and Robel Phillipos were dismayed to discover on Tuesday, October 28, 2013 that the Federal courthouse had secretly switched the time of their status hearing to 11am and announced this only on their twitter feed at 10am. The court website as well as the paper schedule at the front desk of Moakley Courthouse stated that the hearing was at 2:30. Only the clerk’s office, which is past the metal detector at the entrance, had the time crossed out with a pen and the correct time written in. Workers at the front desk said they were not aware of the change.

The result was that supporters and independent journalists sat in the hallway for hours, waiting to observe the hearing that they didn’t realize already happened that morning. Only mainstream media outlets were informed. This was the second time switch for the status hearing that was originally to take place at 10am. Many people feel that these secret actions are serving to cover up something, to deny the boys human contact.

“I was upset and furious of why they did that. This was a last minute thing and it was intentionally as I felt it was because they were trying to block off supporters from knowing something. It was a smart move on their part how well they put that together. But then it will make us be more aware of next time,” complained Ana, a nursing student following the case who had driven many miles to be there.

Defendants Tazhayakov, Kadyrbayev and Phillipos were college dorm buddies of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect, who is due back in court next week. The three are accused of throwing away fireworks, which Federal prosecutors claim constitutes disposing of evidence – even though prosecutors have yet to demonstrate that these fireworks were in any way connected to the bombing.

Oddly enough, on April 21, 2013 empty fireworks tubes were also discovered in a Watertown clothes donation bin. The Boston Herald reported that they couldn’t have been left there by the bombing suspects. Planet Aid operations manager Michael Tambosi said the bin on Belmont Street in Watertown was last emptied at 5:20am Sunday — more than two full days after suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed by Watertown police. There has since been no police investigation. There has been no attempt by authorities to link the three friends to these fireworks either. Why are these particular fireworks not considered suspicious?

The Boston Globe’s Milton Valencia reports that Nicholas Wooldridge, attorney for Azamat Tazhayakov, asked Judge Bowler to lift the court order that restricts what he can say publicly about the criminal proceedings. It unfairly allows federal prosecutors to decide what information is made public while preventing defense attorneys from commenting publicly on or disseminating evidence. The protective order says defense attorneys may only share evidence with immediate family members.

“The government has been the only ones who have been able to comment on this, they’re the only ones who have been able to create a public record,” Wooldridge said. “The defendants have basically been muzzled.”

Wooldridge argued that the protective order even prevents defense lawyers from commenting on what’s already on the public record.

The order also hides most court documents from the public.

Wooldridge said the protective order should be lifted now that his client has been indicted. All three pleaded not guilty to the accusations of impeding FBI investigation.

Assistant US Attorney John Capin argued that “the protective order is properly in place,” and noted that court rules prohibit attorneys from commenting on ongoing proceedings. He said the order is needed to protect Tsarnaev’s friends from adverse pretrial publicity.

This claim does not make much logical sense, since the only information the public has are the government prosecutors’ unsubstantiated allegations in the indictment.

Wooldridge told Bowler he would not agree with any protective order, but attorneys for Tazhayakov’s co-defendants are negotiating a new agreement with prosecutors that would keep the protective order in place while broadening the restrictions so that more of the defendants’ family members can have access to the evidence, reports Valencia.

According to the indictment, Tazhayakov had seen Tsarnaev with fireworks a month earlier when he and others set them off along the banks of the Charles River in Boston. Tsarnaev’s friends initially assumed the fireworks to be “left over” from this incident, but panicked after seeing Tsarnaev’s face on television and removed them “without thinking.”

The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald both reported incidences of “kids playing with fireworks” on March 12 and March 15, 2013. A local fire marshal had been called in over concerns that the “kids” had opened fireworks tubes and attempted to construct a larger type of explosive, to “get more bang for their buck.”

Police Chief Walter Sweeney told news reporters, “Essentially, these appear to be from homemade fireworks and not firecrackers. It appears there is someone experimenting with fireworks although there is no intent to cause harm.”

Tsarnaev’s twitter feed clearly shows pictures of him and several friends in March playing with fireworks and having a great time. There were many other teenagers besides the three indicted friends of Tsarnaev who were also experimenting with the illegal fireworks.

“If there was any suspicion that any of the incidents above were anything to do with bomb making activities and that Tsarnaev’s friends were potentially complicit in such acts there would have been a lot more appearing in court,” claims investigative journalist blogger Baby Blake, who holds a degrees in Criminal Justice and Social Policy, MA Criminal Justice.

She states that the fact that the indictment against the boys “accepts that they did not know fireworks would be present in Tsarnaev’s room when they visited it and only noticed them after they had been there some time, really does lead to serious doubts over the validity of the prosecution case.”

Kadyrbayev’s lawyer, Robert Stahl, said after the hearing that his client did not understand what he had done. “There was no criminal intent to obstruct justice, or to assist Dzhokhar in any way.”

Likewise, attorneys for Phillipos stated he “had nothing to do whatsoever with the Boston Marathon bombing or destroying any evidence afterwards … in the end, it will be clear that this prosecution should never have been brought in the first place.”

Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov had already been in police custody at the time of their arrest due to a “suspicious license plate violation” and authorities then held them on immigration grounds because their student visas had allegedly expired due to them missing classes.

They were arrested on April 19, 2013 and questioned by investigators for 48 hours before they finally confessed. Their statements were written for them by investigators, read back to them and they were asked to sign. When asked if they understood the gravity of the situation their only documented reply was “yes.”

Attorney Wooldridge told reporters after Tuesday’s hearing that the government’s case is weak because it is based on interviews conducted by FBI officials that were never recorded.

“If the three friends are found not guilty of their alleged complicity in the marathon bombings… it must be accepted that they were simply playing with fireworks along with Tsarnaev himself, ergo the fireworks they disposed of could never of been used to construct the bomb that killed and injured so many,” concludes Blake.

Their next status hearing is scheduled for January 15, 2014. No time has been reported.