
In Loyob, they do not believe anyone from their village was capable of taking part in the jihadist massacre at Moscow's Crocus City Hall.
But Faridun Shamsiddin is now one of four Tajik citizens held in a Moscow jail suspected of murdering at least 143 people last week. The 25-year-old is also accused of recruiting two other men to help the gunmen.
He left Loyob, about 40km north-west of the capital Dushanbe, several months ago in search of work in Russia.
Within hours of the Moscow attack, Tajik security forces were seen in Loyob and reportedly took the suspect's father away for interrogation. Russian investigators are also said to have flown to Tajikistan to speak to relatives.
Jihadist group Islamic State said it was behind the Moscow attack and released footage verified by the BBC.