DUSHANBE, June 18, 2013, Asia-Plus — Zayd Saidov’s defense lawyer has known that the investigation into the case of his client has been classified as “top secret.”
“The investigation into the case of Zayd Saidov was classified as “top secret” on June 17,” Shuhrat Qudratov, one of defense lawyers of former Tajik minister of industry, told Asia-Plus today morning.
Zayd Saidov is now held at the pretrial detention facility of State Committee for National Security (SCNS).
We will recall that Tajik known businessman Zayd Saidov, who is the leader of Tajikistan”s unregistered New Tajikistan party, was detained on May 19 on charges of corruption. He has been stripped of his parliamentary immunity.
On May 22, a court in Dushanbe’s Firdavsi district issued the arrest warrant for Zayd Saidov. He was ordered held in pretrial detention for up to two months. The court also ruled that Zayd Saidov cannot be released on bail.
Saidov denies any wrongdoing and says his case is politically motivated. According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, he said during the court hearing on May 22 that he is being persecuted for his decision last month to set up his new political party.
The authorities have sequestrated property of Zayd Saidov and his nearest relatives. The anticorruption agency has reportedly sent a letter to notarial service, noting that the property should not be put on until investigation complete.
To-date, five cars belonging to Zayd Saidov and his sons as well as their houses have been sequestrated. Working premises and building sites have also been sequestrated but later they have been released.
