DUSHANBE, April 15, 2013, Asia-Plus – A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reportedly authorized the extradition of Umarali Quvvatov [the leader of Tajik opposition Group 24] to Tajikistan on April 14.
Quvvatov’s aid, Nikolay Nikolayev, noted on his Facebook page that “according to information received, the judge who handed down the extradition ruling may lose his license to practice law because of corruption.” Nikolayev claims that the Tajik side allegedly paid the sum with eight zeros to the judge.”
According to him, he has not yet received a copy of the court’s decision on extradition of Quvvatov, “therefore, it does not mean that Quvvatov will be extradited immediately.”
We will recall that according to information posted on MoI’s website, relevant bodies of Dubai has reportedly answered an inquiry made by Interpol’s Office in Tajikistan and noted that Umarali Quvvatov is being held at detention center in Dubai and the next extradition hearing will take place on April 7.
The Tajik authorities insist on extradition of Umarali Quvvatov. Tajik Prosecutor-General, Sherkhon Salimzoda, told journalists on January 9 that Tajikistan has sent an official extradition request to the Dubai law enforcement authorities for Umarali Quvvatov. The Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption has instituted criminal proceedings against Umarali Quvvatov, Tajik chief prosecutor noted.
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 US$1.2 million through fraudulent business activities.
His supporters, however, consider that his arrest might be politically motivated.
Quvvatov reportedly set up the Group 24 opposition movement last summer. The group has publicly criticized the widespread corruption under the head of state of Tajikistan, President Rahmon. The group recently called for President Rahmon’s resignation and questioned the likelihood of the upcoming Presidential elections being democratic and fair. The group also criticized President Rahmon’s handling of the military conflict in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in summer 2012.
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.
A statement released by Amnesty International on January 11 says that Tajik businessman Umarali Quvvatov risks extradition to Tajikistan by the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) authorities, where he would be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Amnesty International believes that if returned to Tajikistan, Umarali Quvvatov will be at serious risk of grave human rights violations, in particular incommunicado detention, torture and other ill-treatment, and unfair trial. “If Umarali Quvvatov is extradited, the UAE authorities will be violating their obligations under the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under international law,” the statement said.
