Sources doubt the truthfulness of Yusuf Rahmon’s words

Yusuf Rahmon denied the information about the death of the suspect Akbar Akhmedov in the pre-trial detention center. However, several sources confirmed that the suspect died from torture.

On September 5, the Attorney General of Tajikistan Yusuf Rahmon wrote in his denial letter to Radio Ozodi that the information about the death of Akbar Akhmedov, one of the suspects in the kidnapping and murder of the deputy chairman of “Orionbank” Shukhrat Ismatulloev, is “false.” According to him, Akbar Akhmedov is “arrested and is currently in the pre-trial detention center.”

Yusuf Rahmon writes that the publication of the message about Akhmedov’s death violated “the interests of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the legitimate interests of citizens.”

At the same time, 3 sources of Radio Ozodi confirmed that Akhmedov died in the pre-trial detention center in Dushanbe from torture.

Earlier, Radio Ozodi reported, citing its sources, that Akbar Akhmedov’s mother was detained and held in custody for some time to exert pressure on Akhmedov.

It is reported that in mid-August, Akbar Akhmedov was forced to return to Dushanbe from Moscow in mid-August and surrender to law enforcement agencies. A few days later, he died in the pre-trial detention center under brutal torture. He was secretly buried in his homeland.

The 36-year-old Akbar Akhmedov was one of 16 suspects in the kidnapping and murder of banker Shukhrat Ismatulloev. Akhmedov had 6 children and worked as an IT specialist.

According to authorities, Shukhrat Ismatulloev, the deputy chairman of “Orionbank” Khasan Asadullozoda, was kidnapped on June 23 of this year and died from torture. His body was found in the Sarazm area of the city of Panjakent. The banker was buried on August 30 in Dushanbe.

Currently, law enforcement agencies have detained 13 people in connection with the Ismatulloev case, and the names of some have not yet been disclosed.

One of the suspects, Rustam Ashurov, a former employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, opened fire at the international airport in Chișinău, Moldova, was injured during a special forces storm and died in the hospital.