DUSHANBE, May 22, 2013, Asia-Plus – A small brochure entitled “Illati Millat: Zayd Saidov Kist va Charo Maydoni Siyosi Mejuyad?” (Defect of Nation: Who Is Zayd Saidov and Why Is He Seeking Entry into Political Arena?) is currently being distributed in streets of Dushanbe.
Authored by certain M. Mamadazizov, this brochure says Zayd Saidov was involved in organization of demonstrations in the 1990s and illegal privatization of state-owned property. The brochure also links him to Islamist guerilla leaders.
An article about Zayd Saidov in English came to Asia-Plus’s e-mail today. Its content is identical to the content of the abovementioned brochure in Tajik and article about Zayd Saidov in Russian by certain Safar Hakimov that came to our e-mail on May 10.
Over the last two days, Tajik national TV channels have broadcast a number of critical programs about Zayd Saidov.
Certain Komil Saburov has distributed critical material about the Dushanbe-based Tojikatlas, which was privatized by Zayd Saidov, to e-mails of media outlets.
We will recall that on May 11, the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office instituted criminal proceedings against Zayd Saidov under the provisions of Article 170 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – polygamy. According to the press center of the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office, criminal proceedings have been instituted against Zayd Saidov following operational information received from relevant bodies. Zayd Saidov allegedly has four wives at the same time.
Zayd Saidov, who recently declared the formation of a “New Tajikistan” party, was detained overnight, May 18-19, at the Dushanbe airport upon return from a trip abroad. He was arrested by agents of the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption. On May 19, the anticorruption agency released a statement regarding the detention of Zayd Saidov.
The statement, in particular, notes that Zayd Saidov is suspected of having committed grave economic crimes during the time when he was minister of industry. Zayd Saidov reportedly faces charges under the provisions of three articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 319 (4) – large-scale bribe-taking; Article 247 (4) – fraud committed through the misuse of powers; and Article 314 – abuse of office.
According to the statement, these facts were revealed during the preliminary investigation into case of Tajik tycoon Nizomkhon Jourayev (the so-called “Isafrans’ Case”).
During a confrontation held on May 20, ex-director of the Isfara chemical plant, Nizomkhon Jourayev, reportedly said that he gave a bribe of US$100,000 to Zayd Saidov in 2005.
Charges were officially brought against Zayd Saidov in the evening of May 20 and he was transferred to the temporary holding facility of the anticorruption agency. According to Shuhrat Qudratov, one of Saidov’s lawyers, only one article is mentioned in the detention protocol: Article 319 (4) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – large-scale bribe-taking.
Local experts consider that the allegations are part of growing pressure against Zayd Saidov by authorities since he announced his political intentions.
An article by Abdumalik Kadirov (IWRP Tajikistan Country Director) “Emerging Force in Tajik Politics Arrested” that was posted on the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR)’s website on May 20, in particular, notes that Zayd Saidov’s prosecution looks like a way of stopping him in his tracks before he can build up enough power to present a challenge to the current system.
According to the article, Zayd Saidov denies the large-scale bribe-taking charge. On the polygamy accusations, Zayd Saidov reportedly said he had one wife, but took care of children he had with other women.
