DUSHANBE, September 18, 2013, Asia-Plus – Umarali Quvvatov, leader of the Group 24 opposition movement, noted in a statement, released by his lawyer Nikolai Nikolayev on September 18, that the Dubai court will not make decision on extradition of him to Tajikistan.
Quvvatov’s lawyer, Nikolai Nikolayev, has told Asia-Plus that they are currently deciding the issue of providing political asylum to Umarali Quvvatov. According to him, Hungary is ready to provide political asylum to Quvvatov.
Meanwhile, a well-informed source at one of Tajikistan’s law enforcement agencies told Asia-Plus in late August that the issue of extradition of Quvvatov to Tajikistan will be solved within a week. “We have won all trial proceedings and the Dubai court has rejected an appeal by Quvvatov and his lawyer,” said the source. “It just remains to solve some technical issues.”
We will recall that a court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on April 14 authorized the extradition of Umarali Quvvatov to Tajikistan.
The Tajik authorities insist on extradition of Umarali Quvvatov. Tajik Prosecutor-General, Sherkhon Salimzoda, told journalists on January 9 that Tajikistan has sent an official extradition request to the Dubai law enforcement authorities for Umarali Quvvatov. The Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption has instituted criminal proceedings against Umarali Quvvatov, Tajik chief prosecutor noted.
Umarali Quvvatov was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 23, 2012 at the request of Tajik authorities. He is being accused of illegally obtaining about US$1.2 million through fraudulent business activities.
His supporters, however, consider that his arrest might be politically motivated.
Quvvatov reportedly set up the Group 24 opposition movement last summer. The group has publicly criticized the widespread corruption under the head of state of Tajikistan, President Rahmon.
The group recently called for President Rahmon’s resignation and questioned the likelihood of the upcoming Presidential elections being democratic and fair. The group also criticized President Rahmon’s handling of the military conflict in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in summer 2012.
Quvvatov has denounced the fraud case against him and accused Tajik President Emomali Rahmon of running a “totalitarian regime.” In an open letter smuggled out of the detention center where he is being held, Umarali Quvvatov said the accusations leveled against him were “a direct consequence” of his battle against the “oppression of the Tajik people” by Rahmon”s government.
A statement released by Amnesty International on January 11 says that Tajik businessman Umarali Quvvatov risks extradition to Tajikistan by the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) authorities, where he would be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Amnesty International believes that if returned to Tajikistan, Umarali Quvvatov will be at serious risk of grave human rights violations, in particular incommunicado detention, torture and other ill-treatment, and unfair trial. “If Umarali Quvvatov is extradited, the UAE authorities will be violating their obligations under the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under international law,” the statement said.
