Tajik court convicts a Father Christmas murderer Religious hatred was the main motivating factor for Behruz Shrifov, 17, when he stabbed to death 24-year-old Parviz Delvetbekov on Dec 31, Russian news agency RIA-Novosti quoted a court spokesman as saying on Thursday. Media in January reported that a mob set upon Mr Delvetbekov as he walked to his relatives' apartment dressed in the red and white costume of Father Christmas, known as Uncle Frost by Russian Orthodox believers. Shrifov received 10 years in prison from the court in the Tajik capital Dushanbe. Two other men were also found guilty of hooliganism and given four year sentences, RIA-Novosti reported. Tajikistan is the poorest of the former Soviet state in Central Asia. Islam is the main religion in the country although Russian Orthodox is still relatively prominent. In recent years, though, radical Islam has enjoyed a rise in popularity. The mountainous country has become increasingly important for Western military strategists who are planning Nato's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. Many see Tajikistan as a vital bulwark against the spread northwards of the Taliban and other extremist Islamic groups into Central Asia from Afghanistan.