DUSHANBE, August 13, 2012, Asia-Plus — Law enforcement officials in Tajikistan have announced the arrest of two other suspects in the murder of Kholmumin Safarov, the brother-in-law of Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon.
According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, they are the Hakimov brothers Tohir and Fozil.
A source at the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon that one of them is the son-in-law of Muhammadali Fayzmuhammad, the head of IRP’s check-up commission.
Kholmumin Safarov, 57, was found dead after being shot by unknown assailants on June 13. Police say Safarov was shot in the head, chest, and stomach. The shooting is reported to have occurred as he was returning to his home after evening prayers at a nearby mosque.
A native of Khatlon’s Vose district, Safarov, the husband of Rahmon”s eldest sister, had been serving as chief of the Tajik government”s forest and hunting agency. Some media sources say that while many of the president”s relatives control major Tajik companies and banks, Safarov wasn”t known to be involved in big business.
We will recall that Tajik law enforcement officials noted that a suspect in the murder of Kholmumin Safarov was detained in Dushanbe on July 13. Tajik Interior Affairs Ministry officials said at a news conference that the suspect was detained following a lengthy undercover operation, and that a search is continuing for accomplices. The name, age, and other details about the suspect were not disclosed.
