The investigative body of the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan has extended the period of investigation of the cases of the director of the “Ibn Sino” hospital, Abdukhalil Khaliqzoda, the author of the book “My Life’s Weather” and Abdugadir Rustam – a writer and researcher, in charge of the human resources department of the “Ibn Sino” hospital.
The General Prosecutor’s Office of Tajikistan did not inform about this, and on October 13, no one answered the calls at the press office of this agency. However, several sources familiar with the process of the investigation told Radio Ozodi on Friday that the deadline for the investigation was extended until December 10 for the purpose of additional investigation to identify the assets of Abduhalil Khaliqzoda as a businessman.
A source close to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Tajikistan, on the condition of anonymity, said that the investigating authorities want to list Khaliqzoda’s real estate abroad in two months. It is not clear what the asset count has to do with the official charge of “inciting national and regional hatred”. This is despite the fact that some users of social networks said that after the arrest of Khaliqzoda, the main goal was to seize his property.
The author of “The weather of my life” Abdukhalil Khaliqzoda was arrested on August 7 of this year. Officials announced this only on August 15 at a press conference. At the end of August, the well-known writer and literary critic Abdukadir Rustam was also arrested and suspected of “inciting national hatred and regionalism”. Both detainees deny this charge.
Abdugadir Rustam is one of the editors of “My Life Weather”, which was published in March this year. On October 13, on the occasion of his 65th birthday, many users of social networks celebrated his birthday, and some of them demanded the freedom of the writer in letters from the authorities of Tajikistan.
Critics of the arrest of Khaliqzoda and Rustam call this case an outstanding example of suppression of freedom of expression and opinion in Tajikistan today.
Source : Радио Озоди