DUSHANBE, December 14, 2011, Asia-Plus — The Prosecutor-General’s Office has commented on statements by defense lawyer of Sadriddin Toshev and Mahmadruzi Iskandarov’s son.
Abdusami Dadaboyev, the head of the department for international relations and legal propaganda within the Prosecutor-General’s Office, told Asia-Plus today that they have received considerations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) over Mahmadruzi Iskandarov’s case.
“The considerations have been studied but as is obvious from the case materials, rights of Mahmadruzi Iskandarov were observed both during the preliminary investigation and during the trial,” said Dadaboyev, “Observance of his rights was ensured both under Tajikistan’s legislation and international legal acts recognized by Tajikistan. While studying the OHCHR considerations and Iskandarov’s case, we could not find confirmation of facts recited in a statement by Timur Toshev [the brother of Mahmadruzi Iskandarov – Asia-Plus]. We sent detailed information on the inspection results to the OHCHR last August.”
“In may opinion, they [OHCHR] did not study Iskandarov’s case thoroughly,” Dadaboyev noted.
We will recall that Iskandarov’s son, Firouz Iskandarov, released an open letter approximately a month ago. In his letter, Firouz Iskandarov noted that his father, Mahmadruzi Iskandarov has been held in prison for already seven years contrary to all international norms and applicable laws of Tajikistan, including the country’s Constitution.
The Supreme Court sentenced Democratic Party leader Mahmadruzi Iskandarov to 23 years in prison on October 5, 2005. The sentence followed his conviction on charges of terrorism, the embezzlement of state funds, and the illegal storage of weapons. The court also imposed a 1.5 million-somoni fine and stripped Iskandarov of all previous state honors and awards, including revoking his rank of major general.
“As far as Sadriddin Toshev is concerned, Toshev was convicted more than ten years ago for banditry, forcible seizure of power and terrorism and the 2001 amnesty excluded those serving sentences for serious crimes such as terrorism and extremism, killing two and more people, recidivists or those who committed crimes in prison,” said Dadaboyev, “Under the 2011 amnesty, Toshev has his prison term cut by two years.”
Meanwhile, Toshev’s defense lawyer, Buzurgmehr Yorov, notes that although his client has the right of being freed, the Prosecutor-General’s Office has not solved this issue so far.
We will recall that Sadriddin Toshev was sentenced to 25 years in prison more than ten years ago for banditry, forcible seizure of power and terrorism. Toshev at one time reportedly was supporter of the former United Tajik Opposition (UTO) and he then allegedly joined the mutiny Colonel Mahmoud Khudoiberdiyev.
It is to be noted that Prosecutor-General Sherkhon Salimzoda announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on September 1 that 32 militants who fought government troops in 1997 in Khatlon province, Dushanbe, Hisor, Shahrinav and Tursunzoda as well as armed clash of 1998 in Sughd province were among prisoners freed under the amnesty. Tajik chief prosecutor also added that Yoribek Ibrohimov (Sheikh Yoribek), Ismatullo Habibulloyev (Ismati Auli), Yoqub Salimov, Sadriddin Toshev, Mahmadruzi Iskandarov and Jamshed Siyayev (bead-selling business) have their prison terms cut by two years under the 2011 amnesty.
