DUSHANBE, December 10, 2012, Asia-Plus – Investigation into the murder of president’s brother-in-law Kholmumin Safarov has been designated “top secret,” Shuhrat Qudratov, the defense lawyer of Dilovarsho Qosimov, one of suspects in the murder of Kholmumin Safarov, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“The Prosecutor-General’s Office classified this case as “top secret” on November 26. I suppose that materials related to the state secret have revealed during the investigation,” the lawyer said, noting the Prosecutor-General’s Office required Qosimov’s lawyers to sign nondisclosure restrictions.
“In late November, another charge was brought against Dilovarsho Qosimov – polygamy,” said Qudratov. “Before that he was charged with murder and illegal possession of weapons.”
“Qosimov is being held in the pretrial detention facility of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) and they have not yet allowed me to meet with my client one on one as it is provided for by Article 53 of Tajikistan’s Criminal and Procedure Code. For the last time, his relatives saw him in early September,” Qudratov said.
The term of holding of Dilovarsho Qosimov in the pretrial detention facility has been extended until January 13, the lawyer added.
Representatives from the Prosecutor-General’s Office have refrained from giving comments, pleading the secret of investigation.
We will recall that Kholmumin Safarov, 57, was found dead after being shot by unknown assailants on June 13 this year. 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.
Tajik law enforcement officials noted that Dilovarsho Qosimov, the suspect in the murder of Kholmumin Safarov, the brother-in-law of Tajikistan”s President Emomali Rahmon, was detained in Dushanbe on July 13. Tajik Interior Affairs Ministry officials said at a press conference that the suspect was detained following a lengthy undercover operation.
