Uzbekistan fails to extradite criminals on demand of Tajikistan

Regnum April 17 Official Uzbekistan has not extradited on demand of Tajikistan any important criminal, suspected of involvement in attempts of coup d'etat in Republic Tajikistan. "On the contrary, these criminals visit our country, murder and stage terror acts," stated General Public Prosecutor of Tajikistan Bobojon Bobokhonov at a news conference, a REGNUM correspondent informs. The General Public Prosecutor added, that, in particular, two citizens of Tajikistan, who live in Kanibadam region (south of the country) are detained in connection with assassination of Chief of Defense Ministry's Military Institute Hakimsho Hafisov. Also, Bobokhonov informed the press, that Kamol Batyrov and Komil Normatov escaped to Uzbekistan in 1997, after an armed rebellion in south Tajikistan failed, organized by disgraced Tajik Colonel Mohamed Hudoyberdiev. On March 25, 2000, Kamol Botyrov was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment for illegal drug dealing by Termez court. "During that period of time, when he was to be in prison, he arrived and left Tajikistan 16 times," stressed the general public prosecutor. According to Bobohonov, Office of Tajikistan General Public Prosecutor repeatedly requested Uzbekistan officially to extradite Mohamed Hudoyberdiev, but it has never received any response. Also, he added, in its turn, the Tajik side always extradites criminals on demand of Uzbekistan Office of General Public Prosecutor. Bobohonov stressed, if Uzbekistani side requests to extradite Tajikistan citizens, who committed crime in territory of the neighboring state, the Office of General Public Prosecutor will abstain from extradition of Tajikistani citizens, and will investigate the case in Tajikistan.