DUSHANBE. Feb 18 (Interfax) - The Tajik Prosecutor General's Office has sent Ukraine official documents needed for the extradition of Tajikistan's former Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdulladzhanov, who is accused of committing several grave crimes in Tajikistan, an official with the Tajik Prosecutor General's Office told Interfax.
The agency believes the documents contain enough evidence of Abdulladzhanov's guilt needed for his extradition.
Abdulladzhanov, 64, who has lived in the United States for the past 15 years, was detained at the Borispol international airport on February 15 at the request of the Tajik authorities. On February 7, the court put Abdulladzhanov under temporary arrest for 40 days, within which the Tajik authorities are expected to provide documents allowing his extradition to Tajikistan. On February 13, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that it had received from Ukraine a court ruling on Abdulladzhanov's arrest for 40 days. An official with the Prosecutor General's Office earlier said the collection of the documents for his extradition could have taken two to three weeks, but it eventually only took five days.
The Tajik authorities are accusing Abdulladzhanov of terrorism involving an attempt to kill an authority by an organized group, banditry, organization of a criminal community, misappropriation or embezzlement of large amounts, forcible seizure of power or forcible keeping of power, and sabotage by an organized group. Abdulladzhanov faces life in prison if extradited to Dushanbe and convicted of the charges.
Abdulladzhanov has denied his guilt in interviews with the foreign media.
In Tajikistan, where presidential elections are scheduled to be held in November 2013, it is now rumored that Abdulladzhanov will support some candidate from the opposition, who is currently keeping silent about running in the elections. Abdulladzhanov has not given any interviews for a long time and therefore his position on the matter in unknown.