DUSHANBE, September 12, 2014, Asia-Plus — Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have detained a Tajik national they say intended to join militants in the Palestinian territories, Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz Service reported on September 12.
Police in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh told RFE/RL that Komil Rahmatov, 45, from Tajikistan”s northern Sughd province, had been detained at the Osh international airport 30 minutes before he was to depart for Istanbul on September 11.
Rahmatov was detained after Osh police received a tip from sources, police spokesman Zamir Sydykov said.
He said Rahmatov acknowledged he planned to travel to the Palestinian territories to “help Muslim brothers” there.
Investigators are trying to find out why Rahmatov chose Osh as a transit point and whether would-be militants from other Central Asian nations planned to go with him.
Sughd province police told RFE/RL they hope Rahmatov will be extradited to Tajikistan swiftly.
