DUSHANBE, June 24, 2016, Asia-Plus – Ex-Interior Minister Yoqub Salimov, who was recently released after a 13-year imprisonment, gave an interview to the Dushanbe weekly
Tojikiston
(Tajikistan).
Salimov, in particular, underlined the significance of independence and personality of Emomali Rahmon.
“Due to the independence we have created our national state but some forces wanted to drown our independence in blood. They have managed to done this to certain extent; Tajikistan was on the verge of breakup. While in prison, I was always thinking about mistakes, actions and wrongly-chosen way,” Salimov said.
“We must love our country like we love our mother and unite behind the Leader of the Nation Emomali Rahmon for the sake of progress of our country,” said Salimov. “This man [Rahmon] has managed to unite the dispersed nation step by step during twenty-five years.”
“I do not want to see my country in the area of influence of other countries so that our country would be plunged into bloodshed again for the sake of group, party or religious interests,” the ex-interior minister stated.
Salimov called on citizens of Tajikistan to respect the nation and not allow separatism any more.
We will recall that a 60-year-old Yoqub Salimov, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison on April 25, 2005, was released on June 21 after a 13-year imprisonment.
Yoqub Salimov was one of top field commanders in the Popular Front, a paramilitary group that supported the government during the five-year civil conflict in 1992-1997.
Yoqub Salimov was one of the most powerful figures in Tajik politics after civil war broke out in the spring of 1992. He was once Tajikistan’s interior minister, ambassador to Turkey, and chairman of the state customs committee.
In 1990 Yoqub Salimov was convicted for taking part in Dushanbe riots. When Tajik Civil War broke out, Salimov was released from prison, and became one of leaders of the Popular Front. In 1997 he was charged with attempting a coup d”etat. Afterwards he fled Tajikistan, but was arrested in Moscow in 2003. Since July 2003, Salimov had been held at Moscow”s Lefortovo prison.
On February 24, 2004, he was extradited to Tajikistan. After a five-month trial that was held behind closed doors, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan found Salimov guilty of treason, banditry, and abuse of office and sentenced him to 15 years in prison on April 25, 2005.
Yoqub Salimov’s prison term was cut by two years in August 2011 under the partial amnesty granted to him.
