DUSHANBE, November 7, 2008, Asia-Plus — Abdurasoul Mirzoyev, the brother of former Drug Control Agency (DCA) director Ghaffor Mirzoyev, is expected to be extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tajikistan within the next few days, according to a source at the Prosecutor-General’s Office.
The source noted that Abdurasoul Mirzoyev is considered to be involved in crimes committed by his brother. “He will be extradited to Tajikistan under an extradition agreement signed between Tajikistan and the UAE in 2007 and ratified by the Tajik parliament last April,” the source said, adding that the Tajik main military prosecutor’s office is investigating Abdurasoul Mirzoyev’s case. However, the source refrained from giving the case details.
According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Abdurasoul Mirzoyev has been international wanted since 2004 on suspicion of having been involved in fraud, tax evasion and some other economic crimes.
We will recall that in September 2004 following application by the Prosecutor-General’s Office, Tajikistan’s High Economic Court handed down a ruling ordering to transfer ownership of a meat-processing plant, casino, and store from Abdurasoul Mirzoyev to the state. The decision invalidated Abdurasoul Mirzoyev”s acquisition of shares in the enterprises in 2002. Ownership of the businesses reverted to the State Committee for State-owned-Property that put them up for auction.
We will recall that Tajikistan”s Supreme Court sentenced former Drug Control Agency head Ghaffor Mirzoyev to life in prison on August 11, 2007. The sentence followed his conviction on charges of a coup attempt, abuse of office, and murder. Fifteen other defendants received prison terms ranging from 12 to 16 years. Mirzoyev, who maintained his innocence throughout the closed-door case, was arrested in August 200. Before heading the Drug Control Agency, he had commanded the Presidential Guard. During Tajikistan”s 1992-97 civil war, he was a field commander in the Popular Front.
In the meantime, according to some unofficial sources, Abdurasoul Mirzoyev was already extradited from the UAE.
