DUSHANBE, February 26, 2013, Asia-Plus — A prosecutor in the trial of supposed killers of the GBAO regional security chief asked a court in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) on February 26 to sentence Oqil Ayombekov to a 17.5-year prison term and Hamza Murodov to a 16.5-year prison term.
Meanwhile, the defense lawyer, Fayz Oli, says Oqil Ayombekov admitted guilt and incrimination is based on admission of guilt and surrender. “Hamza Murodov considers that he is guilty of only not reporting the crime. According to him, he was separating the conflicting sides,” the lawyer said.
The sentence on General Nazarov’s case is expected to be passed on Wednesday.
We will recall that the trial started on February 19. Proceedings started with the reading of the indictment, which charged Oqil Ayombekov and Hamza Murodov with weapon embezzlement and use of violence against a representative of authorities. The sessions are being held behind closed doors.
The GBAO regional security chief Abdullo Nazarov was stabbed to death on July 21, 2012.
The clashes began in Khorog on July 24 when government forces launched a military operation against what it called “militants” following the murder of the regional security chief.
The authorities have blamed Tolib Ayombekov, a former warlord from the civil war who had been deputy chief of border unit in the Ishkashim district until recently, for the murder of the regional security chief Abdullo Nazarov. Hundreds of troops have reportedly poured into Khorog to hunt down Ayombekov.
Authorities also accused Ayombekov of drug-trading and smuggling tobacco and precious stones.
Tolib Ayombekov has denied the accusations and said the government used Nazarov”s death as a pretext for cementing its grip over Gorno Badakhshan.
Oqil Ayombekov, who is the brother of Tolib Ayombekov, and Hamza Murodov surrendered to the authorities in early August.
Tolib Ayombekov himself surrendered to the authorities on August 12.
Another former filed commander of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) in Gorno Badakhshan, Imomnazar Imomnazarov, was murdered by unknown assailants in his home in Khorog on August 22.
