DUSHANBE, December 25, Asia-Plus - The Supreme Court of Tajikistan has completed consideration of criminal proceedings instituted against two residents of the Qubodiyon district of Khatlon - a 45-year-old Komiljon Huseinov and a 32-year Komiljon Botyrov, who are accused of killing Major-General Hokimsho Hofizov, director of the Defense Ministry’s Military Institute.  

The Supreme Court on December 25 ruled that Botyrov be sentenced to life imprisonment.  Huseinov received a jai term of 30 years and he will serve it in a high-security penal colony.

 Judge Shavkat Abdulkhairov, who took in the trial, noted that an investigation revealed that the men are supporters of rebel Colonel Mahmoud Khudoyberdiyev, who masterminded two coup attempts in the Nineties.  “Besides killing of Hofizov, they were also convicted on charges of banditry, illegally bearing, possessing, and acquiring weapons, killing with aggravating circumstances, robberies, participating in terrorist act,” Abdulkhairov said.  

According to him, Hofizov was killed after he had turned down joining the rebel Colonel Khudoyberdiyev.  

Botyrov and Huseinov were detained in the spring this year and their trial began in the Supreme Court in November.   

We will recall that a 41-year-old Hokimsho Hofizov was shot and killed by unidentified assailants in Dushanbe on January 27, 2007, as he was leaving his home.    

Hofizov had been the head of Tajikistan''s military academy since 1998.  In 1993-1996, he was chief of staff in the brigade of Mahmoud Khudoyberdiyev.