DUSHANBE, January 9, 2013, Asia-Plus — In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Prosecutor-General Sherkhon Salimzoda noted on January 9 that Tajikistan has sent an official extradition request to the Dubai law enforcement authorities for Umarali Quvvatov.
According to him, the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption has instituted criminal proceedings against Umarali Quvvatov.
Tajik chief prosecutor has refrained from giving further details of the case.
Meanwhile, Qumrinisso Hofizova, the wife of Umarali Quvvatov, fears that if Quvvatov is extradited to Tajikistan he will be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Ms. Hofizova told media sources that she was going to apply for help to Amnesty International.
Mr. Umarali Quvvatov positions himself as entrepreneur who became politician and was forced to flee to the Russian Federation following “certain problems he faced in homeland.”
Umarali Quvvatov was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 23, 2012 at the request of Tajik authorities. He is being accused of illegally obtaining about $1.2 million through fraudulent business activities.
His supporters, however, consider that his arrest might be politically motivated. Quvvatov set up the Group 24 opposition movement last summer.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports that Quvvatov has denounced the fraud case against him and accused Tajik President Emomali Rahmon of running a “totalitarian regime.” In an open letter smuggled out of the detention center where he is being held, Umarali Quvvatov said the accusations leveled against him were “a direct consequence” of his battle against the “oppression of the Tajik people” by Rahmon”s government.
