21 August. “Asia-Plus” – Georgian authorities released Tajik oppositionier, Dadajan Atavullaev, who was detained on 20 August in Tbilisi Airport based on Interpol request. He was accused of religious extremism and terrorism.
As Dadajan Atavullaev told Asia-Plus, he is already in Germany. “I was released around 5 PM Tbilisi time, but they asked not to publicize.”
He said that he arrived in Germany and is preparing another statement to addressed to Tajik authorities.
He told Asia-Plus on August 20 that he is not being let out of the airport until the issue is cleared up. Mr. Atavullaev said: “I have been told that I have been detained based on Interpol request. I am supposedly accused of religious extremism and terrorism. I told them who I am, showed some newspapers with my publications, and I think was able to convince them that it is politically motivated. But I was told that the issue of my release should be decided at the highest level. Business day is just starting here, and I think the issue will be resolved by the end of the day. I am being treated well.”
He says that he arrived in Tbilisi from Prague for meetings. According to him, the meeting was supposed to be held either in Ukraine or in Turkey or in Georgia, and Georgia was chosen which he considers “most democratic.”
Meanwhile, Reporters without Borders published a statement on its official website on August 20, which called on Georgian authorities to immediately release the well-known Tajik journalist and oppositionier, Dadajan Atavullaev.
