DUSHANBE, March 16, 2013 Asia-Plus — Former Tajik Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov believes his possible extradition from Ukraine to Tajikistan would effectively mean his death sentence,
Interfax-Ukraine
reported on March 15.
“I thought Ukraine is a European country. It should respect both its laws and international ones. I can’t understand the prosecutors’ position. This means the law has been broken nearly four times,” Abdullojonov told journalists in Kiev on Friday in a recess from a hearing at the Shevchenko district court, which later sanctioned his extradition arrest.
“If such a judgment is made [on his extradition arrest and extradition to Tajikistan], this would be equal to a death sentence. I am declaring this officially,” Abdullojonov said.
He said he was about to be granted U.S. citizenship in February 2013 and insisted that his persecution in Tajikistan was politically motivated.
The ex-prime minister pointed out that he has had refugee status in the U.S. since 1999 and has a refugee travel document, with which he had been safely traveling around Europe and other countries and which was presented to the Ukrainian court.
Abdullojonov said he had arrived in Ukraine as a private person, and his detention and arrest were unexpected to him.
Abdullojonov attributes his detention to the upcoming presidential election in Tajikistan. “All this is being done out of fear before the elections. They know about my authority with the people there.”
The ex-premier said he was perplexed that, before coming to Ukraine, he received a visa and was sure that he could safely stay in Ukraine. “It is for sure that someone stands behind this,” he said.
Abdullojonov said he worried about his life. “I think my transportation is unlikely to be completed. They don’t need me alive,” he said.
An extradition arrest in Ukraine serves as a restrictive measure imposed on a person whose extradition to another country is under consideration.
