The Prosecutor General's Office of Tajikistan has denied the information of radio “Ozodi” about Akbar Akhmedov’s death in jail, one of the suspects in the abduction and murder of the deputy head of “Orienbank”, Shukhrat Ismatulloev.
Recall that three sources informed “Ozodi” on September 3 about the death of Akbar Akhmedov. According to them, the Ministry of Internal Affairs handed over Akhmedov's body to his parents on August 30. At the same time, the man's body was taken to the cemetery in a wooden coffin and was buried in it, and relatives were forbidden to examine the body and tell others about what happened.
Yusuf Rahmon, the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan, writes in a letter of denial dated September 5 that a criminal case has been opened against Akbar Akhmedov, "he has been arrested and is currently in a pre-trial detention center."
"The information of Radio “Ozodi” is not supported by convincing evidence, incorrect information about his death was reprinted by other media and in social networks," the Prosecutor General's denial letter says.
Yusuf Rahmon notes that the publication of a message about the death of a suspect in the kidnapping and murder of banker Shukhrat Ismatulloev violated "the interests of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the legitimate interests of citizens."
However, sources of Radio “Ozodi” insist that Akbar Akhmedov actually died in a pre-trial detention center in Dushanbe. Moreover, Akbar Akhmedov has not made a confession of his guilt on local TV channels, which also confirms the information about his death, sources say.
Radio “Ozodi” notes that it continues to investigate this topic.
The Tajik authorities consider Akbar Akhmedov to be a member of a criminal group that kidnapped the first deputy head of “Orienbank”, Shukhrat Ismatulloev, on June 23. According to the authorities, members of the organized criminal group tortured Ismatulloev, as a result of which he died. In order to conceal the traces of the crime, they threw the body of the murdered man and the car into the Zarafshan River. The body was found almost two months later.
Akbar Akhmedov was wanted, and in early August, according to radio “Ozodi”, law enforcement agencies detained and took his mother to jail to put pressure on his son. After that, Akhmedov "had to return to Dushanbe from Moscow” and "surrender to law enforcement agencies."
Prosecutor General of Tajikistan Yusuf Rahmon in his letter also refutes information about the detention of Akbar Akhmedov's mother.
