Tolibbek Ayyombekov

Tolibbek Ayyombekov (, ; born 6 July 1966 in Khorog), commonly known as Tolib Ayombekov (, ), is a Pamiri jailed ex-opposition fighter from Tajikistan, who was involved in the Gorno-Badakhshan clashes in 2012 against the government forces of ruling Tajik president Emomali Rahmon. Until his arrest in June 2022, he was particularly influential in his home Khlebzavod microraion of Khorog.

Ayombekov is the brother of former prominent Tajik opposition commander Abdulamon Ayombekov, As part of the subsequent 1997 peace deal between the opposing sides, Ayombekov was first appointed commander of police battalion in Khorog and later, in 2008, made head of the Ishkashim border detachment, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. and was fatally stabbed in an incident in Ishkoshim, heavy fighting erupted on 24 July 2012 between government forces and militants loyal to Ayombekov in the streets of Khorog. Ayombekov denied any responsibility for Nazarov's death. The clashes ended when, on request of Ismaili Imam Karim Agha Khan, he surrendered himself to the Tajik government, in exchange for their withdrawal from Khorog.

In the aftermath of the clashes, Tolib Ayombekov, together with other informal leaders including Muhammadboqir Muhammadboqirov and Yodgorshoh Muhammadaslamov, was entered into ICPO-INTERPOL's database of wanted persons, at the request of the Tajik government. He remained in it until January 2013.

In 2018, following the consent tensions in Badakhshan, all 7 informal leaders of Badakhshan, including Ayombekov, signed a protocol with the government, agreeing not to interfere in the activities of government agencies. In exchange for their agreement, all legal cases against them were dropped, and they were no longer officially referred to as criminals. Additionally, the government ceased demanding that they turn over all weapons in their possession. Following the signing of the protocol, the informal leaders were invited to meet Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe. Ayombekov was among those that agreed to the invitation and arrived in Dushanbe.

On 11 June 2022, following the killing of Tajik opposition figures Muhammadboqir Muhammadboqirov, Khursand Mazorov, and Zoir Rajabov, he was detained by Tajik security forces in Khorog, alongside Munavvar Shanbiev and Niyozshoh Gulobov. On 23 November 2022, he and the other co-defendants were given a life sentence. All 3 of his sons, as well as his 2 brothers, were arrested thereafter.