Tajik opposition leader killed in Istanbul, family are poisoned

Leader of Tajik opposition Umarali Kuvatov was killed in Istanbul on the evening of March 5. He had had supper in a café and was killed when he went out of the building.

Kuvatov’s wife and his two small children were taken to hospital on poisoning suspicion, BBC reports. They are in intensive care now. The oppositionist was in a cafe with his family (they had been invited there). He felt bad all of a sudden and decided to go out. He was shot down immediately. His wife and children felt bad soon and lost conscience.

Kuvatov was the leader of the opposition movement Group-24 that is called ‘extremist’ in his country. He immigrated to Russia in 2012 and moved to Turkey later. He harshly criticised Tajik authorities. The latter kept demanding his extradition.

Tajikistan special services have threatened him many times, the oppositionist used to say.

Photo: kp.ru