DUSHANBE, March 19, 2013, Asia-Plus – The appeals court of Tajikistan’s Supreme Court has upheld the latter’s verdict against Dilovarsho Qosimov, who was found guilty of killing president’s relative and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Qosimov’s lawyer, Shuhrat Qudratov, says the appeals court considered the appeal by Dilovarsho Qosimov on March 19.

“The court has shown its capacity and its dependence once again,” said the lawyer.  “The court has ignored all shortcomings existing in Qosimov’s case.”

We will recall that the Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced Dilovarsho Qosimov, who was found guilty of killing Kholmumin Safarov, the 57-year-old husband of President Emomali Rahmon''s eldest sister, to 26 years in prison on January 18.  The sentence followed his conviction on charges of murder, illegal possession of weapons and polygamy.

The court''s ruling was nearly identical to the prosecution''s earlier demand for a 27-year prison term.

The trial that was held behind closed doors at the pretrial detention facility of the Ministry of Justice began on December 24 and Dilovarsho Qosimov was insisting that he had nothing to do with the murder.

Kholmumin Safarov was found dead after being shot by unknown assailants on June 13, 2012.  Police say Safarov was shot in the head, chest, and stomach.  The shooting is reported to have occurred as he was returning to his home after evening prayers at a nearby mosque.

A native of Khatlon’s Vose district, Safarov, the brother-in-law of President Emomali Rahmon, had been serving as chief of the Tajik government''s forest and hunting agency.

Tajik law enforcement officials noted that Dilovarsho Qosimov, the suspect in the murder of Kholmumin Safarov was detained in Dushanbe on July 13.  On November 26, the investigation into the murder of Kholmumin Safarov was classified as “top secret.”