DUSHANBE, January 27, 2016, Asia-Plus /Avaz Yuldoshev/ -- Yoqub Salimov, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison on April 25, 2005, will be released in early summer this year, an official source at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon.

“Yoqub Salimov will be released from prison in late May or early June this year,” the source said.

Yoqub Salimov was one of top field commanders in the Popular Front, a paramilitary group that supported the government during the five-year civil conflict in 1992-1997.

Yoqub Salimov was one of the most powerful figures in Tajik politics after civil war broke out in the spring of 1992.  He was once Tajikistan’s interior minister, ambassador to Turkey, and chairman of the state customs committee.

In 1990 Yoqub Salimov was convicted for taking part in Dushanbe riots.  When Tajik Civil War broke out, Salimov was released from prison, and became one of leaders of the Popular Front.  In 1997 he was charged with attempting a coup d''etat.  Afterwards he fled from Tajikistan, but was arrested in Moscow in 2003.  Salimov had been detained since July 2003 at Moscow''s Lefortovo prison.

On February 24, 2004, he was extradited to Tajikistan.  After a five-month trial that was held behind closed doors, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan found Salimov guilty of treason, banditry, and abuse of office and sentenced him to 15 years in prison on April 25, 2005.

Yoqub Salimov’s prison term was cut by two years in August 2011 under the partial amnesty granted to him.