Three detained over murder of opposition Tajik leader

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

Three people suspected of involvement in the murder of a Tajik opposition leader in Istanbul, who had warned Turkish authorities of a possible assassination and asked to be given a security detail, were detained on March 9 by local anti-terror police, security officials have said.

Tajik opposition leader Umarali Kuvatov, who was the leader of Tajik opposition movement Group 24, was killed in a gun attack in Istanbul late on March 5.

Local daily Sabah claimed that the three detained suspects were related to Tajikistan’s intelligence service, the MoS. 

Kuvatov was laid to rest in Istanbul on March 10, after noon prayers at the city’s Fatih Mosque.
The Supreme Court of Tajikistan labeled Group 24 an “extremist” organization in October 2014 and banned its activities. The ruling came after the group called for anti-government protests in the country.