DUSHANBE, February 19, 2013, Asia-Plus — A trial of alleged murderers of the GBAO security chief Abdullo Nazarov has begun in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
The trail is being held at Khorog’s pretrial detention facility behind closed doors. Two residents of Khorog – Oqil Ayombekov and Hamza Murodov – are on the trail over the killing of Abdullo Nazarov.
Fayzi Oli, who represents Oqil Ayombekov and Hamza Murodov in the trial, says criminal proceedings have been instituted against his clients under the provisions of Article 104 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – murder.
We will recall that the GABO regional security chief Abdullo Nazarov was stabbed to death on July 21, 2012.
The clashes began in Khorog on July 24 when government forces launched a military operation against what it called “militants” following the murder of the regional security chief.
The authorities have blamed Tolib Ayombekov, a former warlord from the civil war who had been deputy chief of border unit in the Ishkashim district until recently, for the murder of the regional security chief Abdullo Nazarov. Hundreds of troops have reportedly poured into Khorog to hunt down Ayombekov.
Authorities also accused Ayombekov of drug-trading and smuggling tobacco and precious stones.
Tolib Ayombekov has denied the accusations and said the government is using Nazarov”s death as a pretext for cementing its grip over Gorno Badakhshan.
Oqil Ayombekov, who is the brother of Tolib Ayombekov, and Hamza Murodov surrendered to the authorities in early August.
Tolib Ayombekov himself surrendered to the authorities on August 12.
Another former filed commander of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) in Gorno Badakhshan, Imomnazar Imomnazarov, was murdered by unknown assailants in his home in Khorog on August 22.
