DUSHANBE, March 6, 2013, Asia-Plus – Andriy Fedur, the lawyer of former Tajik Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov in Ukraine, has reportedly handed over documents confirming political asylum status of his client to Ukraine’s chief prosecutor.

Andriy Fedur has told Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service that he hopes that the Ukrainian authorities will release Abdumalik Abdullojonov soon.

“The documents confirm that Abdullojonov was granted political asylum in the United States in June 199 and under Ukraine’s legislation, he cannot be extradited to the country where he was born,” the lawyer said.

Amnesty International (AI) has written to the Ukrainian authorities urging them not to return former Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov to Tajikistan where “he would be at risk of torture and other grave human rights violations.”  Amnesty International has also urged the Ukrainian authorities to immediately release Abdumalik Abdullojonov.

A statement released by AI on March 4, in particular, notes that Amnesty International is concerned that, if extradited to Tajikistan, Abdumalik Abdullojonov will face unfair trial and be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.  The organization has called on the Ukrainian authorities to refuse any request from the Tajikistani authorities to extradite Abdumalik Abdullojonov, and to grant Abdumalik Abdullojonov access to a fair and impartial asylum procedure.

Oldrich Andrysek, the regional representative in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, voiced his support of Abdullojonov in February.

We will recall that Abdumalik Abdullojonov was arrested at Borispol Airport near Kiev on February 5 on an international warrant after arriving from the United States.

The Borispol court ruled on February 7 that former Tajik Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov can be held in detention for up to 40 days while authorities await documents from Dushanbe regarding his possible extradition.

Abdumalik Abdullojonov, who challenged Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in the 1994 presidential election, is accused by the Tajik authorities of involvement in a 1996 assassination attempt on President Rahmon.  He is also accused of backing a 1998 militant attack in Sughd Province, and of organized crime and terrorism-related offenses.

Abdumalik Abdullojonov denies these charges.  He was granted political asylum in the United States in June 199 and for the past decade, Abdullojonov has lived in the United States.