DUSHANBE, April 12, 2011, Asia-Plus — The Prosecutor-General’s Office of Tajikistan has applied to the Russian authorities for detention and further extradition Dodojon Atovulloyev, editor-in-chief of a Moscow-based opposition newspaper, Charoghi Rouz, also leader of the opposition Vatandor (Patriot) movement.
Tajik Prosecutor-General Sherkhon Salimzoda remarked this at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 12.
The Prosecutor-General”s Office instituted criminal proceedings against Dodojon Atovulloyev in 2008, following an application by the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Criminal proceedings against Atovulloyev were instituted under the provisions of several articles of Tajikistan”s Penal Code, including Article 307 (calls for violent change of constitutional order) and Article 137 (public defamation of the president).
Over the first three months of this year, Tajik prosecutor-general’s office has sent to Russia application for extradition of 35 persons who charged with committing various crimes in Tajikistan, Tajik chief prosecutor noted.
On the extradition of ex-member of the Sughd legislature and the former director general of the chemical plant in the northern city of Isfara Nizomkhon Jourayev, Salimzoda noted that the issue was being solved within the framework of observance of human rights.
Nizomkhon Jourayev, detained by Moscow police last year, applied for asylum to Russia’s Federal Migration Service (MFS)’ office and according to some media outlets, Russian officials have told Tajikistan they will not extradite Jourayev to Tajikistan until Russia”s Federal Migration Service rules on his asylum request.
Nizomkhon Jourayev has been wanted by Tajik police since 2007. In 2007 investigations were launched into his financial activities, and later in 2008 he was officially accused of ordering assassination of former Deputy Prosecutor-General Tolib Boboyev in 1999.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Nizomkhon Jourayev under the provisions of eight articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 104 – murder; Article 185 – organization of illegal armed formation; Article 186 – banditry; Article 195 – illegal storage of weapons; Article 245 – embezzlement or misappropriation; Article 262 – money laundering; Article 292 – tax evasion; and Article 340 – document forgery. Jourayev and his associates were also charged with setting up an organized criminal group, tax evasion, and a number of financial crimes.
