2 out of 4 warlords suspected of killing Tajik security official surrender to govt forces
DUSHANBE. Aug 11 (Interfax) - Two out of the four warlords suspected of killing a high-ranking official of the Tajik National Security Committee have voluntarily surrendered to government forces, a law enforcement source told Interfax on Friday.
"Two men suspected of immediate involvement in killing Abdullo Nazarov voluntarily surrendered to the law enforcement. They came to the Khorugh police department," the source said.
The two men were identified as Okil Ayombekov, a brother of former opposition warlord Tolib Ayombekov, and his driver Khamza Gulnazar.
It was unclear whether the two admitted their guilt or turned themselves in to testify in their defense to prove their innocence.
Gen. Nazarov, a former head of the National Security Committee department for the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region, was beaten to death by a group of people late on July 21. Knife wounds were later found on his body as well.
The authorities declared that Tolib Ayombekov and his men were suspected of killing Nazarov. Ayombekov himself denied his responsibility for killing Nazarov in an interview with local media.
Tajik authorities held an operation against the insurgents led by Ayombekov in Khorugh, the administrative center of Gorno-Badakhshan, on July 24. It was reported officially that one civilian and 17 servicemen were killed and 40 others injured in the operation. Also 30 insurgents were killed and 41 detained. After that, the parties agreed to cease fire and started negotiations.
The authorities called on the insurgents to surrender and lay down their arms, for which they would be pardoned, and turn in the four men suspected of killing Nazarov. Some of the militants started surrendering their arms on July 29, and this process is still continuing. Hundreds of firearms have been surrendered by now.
However, the suspects have still not been turned in. The authorities later demanded that not only Tolib Ayombekov and the three of his men be turned in but also three other former opposition commanders, who fought against Popular Front during the 1992-1997 civil war in Tajikistan. Popular Front later brought to power incumbent President Emomali Rahmon.
A source told Interfax earlier on Friday that these commanders, whose whereabouts is unknown, insisted through mediators that they be cleared of all charges and pardoned. The government has made no comments on this demand so far.
Gorno-Badakhshan is a thinly-populated area in eastern Tajikistan, most of which is occupied by the Pamir Mountains. Khorugh is located close to the border with Afghanistan 520 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe.
