KULOB, March 29, 2010, Asia-Plus — The former field commander of the pro-government Popular Front, Salmon Langariyev, died at the age of 84 in Kulob today morning after long illness.
Salmon Langariyev is the farther of the Langariyev brothers – Langari, Fayzali, Bakhtiyor and Suhrob. One of them, Langari Langariyev, served as a top field commander during the civil war in the pro-government Popular Front. He was killed in 1993, during the early phase of the conflict, which ended in 1998.
According to relatives, Salmon Langariyev was worrying about his two sons – Bakhtiyor and Suhrob. His son Bakhtiyor is currently outside the country, while his son Suhrob is currently serving his life term in one of Tajik penal colonies.
We will recall that the Supreme Court sentenced Suhrob Langariyev and his seven confederates, including relatives of former top field commanders of the pro-government Popular Front, to life in prison on April 7, 2009.
Suhrob Langariyev was found guilty of illegal drug and arms trafficking. Sangak Safarov”s son, Nurmahmad, was also sentenced to life in prison as a member of Langariyev”s group.
Suhrob Langariyev, pleaded partially guilty to illegal weapon possession, but denied the other charges.
Suhron Langariyev and the others, including two Afghans, were apprehended in the city of Kulob in the summer of 2008.
Salmon Langariyev, told Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service in April 2009 he has tried to meet with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to request a pardon for his son. He said the Tajik authorities should not forget that his son, closest relatives, and Nurmahmad Safarov helped the Tajik government come to power in 1992.
Another son of Salmon Langariyev – Major-General Fayzali Langariyev – heads one of departments of the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
