DUSHANBE, January 11, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan’s Supreme Court is beginning proceedings in the criminal case against Ghaffor Mirzoyev, the former head of the Drug Control Agency (DCA) and former commander of the National (formerly Presidential) Guards today, January 11.

The trial of Mirzoyev’s case is closed since the investigation of his case involves matters considered state secrets.  Therefore the trial is being held at pretrial detention facility of the Security Ministry.  According to information from the Supreme Court’s press service, judge Zafar Azizov id presiding over the trial.    

Ghaffor Mirzoyev is charged with violating 34 articles of the Tajik Criminal Code, including attempting a coup d’etat, murder, weapons-possession and numerous acts of corruption.  

Together with Ghaffor Mirzoyev, 15 other people are also in the dock 

As it had been reported earlier, Ghaffor Mirzoyev studied the government’s case against him and now denies all of the charges he face.  Mirzoyev’s defense lawyer Qayum Yusufov said that his client had previously admitted partial quilt on corruption charges only because he had not had an opportunity to review his case.  

Ghaffor Mirzoyev was arrested on August 6, 2004.