DUSHANBE, September 21, 2010, Asia-Plus — Former United Tajik Opposition (UTO) field commander Mirzokhouja Ahmadov is afraid that the situation may deteriorate in the east of Tajikistan.
In a telephone interview with Asia-Plus today, Ahmadov said local residents are concerned over presence of a large number of government forces in the region, who are conducting search of residential houses and so forth.
“For example, people in military uniform today cordoned off house of one of officers from the regional anti crime division, but they found nothing and went away. What”s all this in aid of? An old Tajik saying is “Do not awaken the bear that sleeps.” They must find and punish those who attacked a military convoy in the Kamarob Gorge, those who destabilize the situation in the country. We live calmly and touch nobody,” Ahmadov said.
Mirzokhouja Ahmadov found difficulty in supposing who was behind the attack on the military convoy. “Whoever they may be they must be punished,” he said.
The former opposition field commander added that rumors that he allegedly surrendered to authorities and handed over weapons to law enforcement agencies Monday morning were absurd. “I am Tajik and I recognize legitimate power. I am now an ordinary farmer. Besides, I do not have any weapon now. All weapons I had I handed over to local law enforcement authorities in 2009 after a meeting with the president,” he stressed.
Ahmadov was a member of the UTO during the country”s civil war in the mid-1990s but was later appointed to a senior police post as part of a broader attempt at reintegrating former rebel leaders. He served as chief of the Interior Ministry anti organized crime division for Rasht Valley until autumn 2008. He was dismissed following the murder of the special police unit commander Oleg Zakharchenko in Gharm in February 2008.
The special police unit was attacked on February 2, 2008 after it was dispatched to the Rasht district headquarters of the regional state body empowered to combat organized crime. The police unit was reportedly seeking to arrest the head of the body, Mirzokhouja Ahmadov, but was fired upon by gunmen loyal to Ahmadov. Oleg Zakharchenko was the only person killed, although several policemen sustained injuries in the shoot-out. Ahmadov asserted that there were not his supporters that killed Zakharchenko.
On September 15 this year, Interior Minister Abdurahim Qahhorov, Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev, State Committee for National Security deputy head Mansourjon Umarov and Deputy Prosecutor-General Abduqodir Muhammadiyev met in Gharm with Mirzokhouja Ahmadov and another former opposition commander and Shoh Iskandarov. The deputy chief prosecutor assured the former opposition commanders of their safety and noted that no criminal proceedings would be instituted against them. The meeting resulted in conclusion of an oral agreement between the sides.
In the meantime, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on September 15 that after the five-hour meeting, the law enforcement officials have assured Ahmadov and Iskandarov of their safety and told them that the government had sent forces to the district only to detain Mullo Abdullo (Abdullo Rahimov) and his supporters. A source told RFE/RL that the government delegation asked Ahmadov and Iskandarov to help them in detaining Mullo Abdullo.
