Boryspil court (Kyiv region) has granted a request by the prosecutor's office for the temporary arrest of former Tajik Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullajanov, who was detained at Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport this week, Interfax-Ukraine has learned at the press service of the Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv region.
“The court granted the prosecutor’s office request for the temporary arrest of the citizen of Tajikistan for 40 days,” the press service of the regional prosecutor’s office said.
Under the law, a court is to decide on the temporary arrest of a person wanted by Interpol within 72 hours of their detention. Temporary arrest before an extradition process is limited to 40 days.
Abdullajanov was detained at Kyiv Boryspil International Airport, were he arrived from the United States on February 5.
Ukraine’s State Migration Service said that Abdullajanov has not asked for refugee status in Ukraine so far.
Abdullajanov, 64, was the Tajik Prime Minister from September 1992 to 1993. He stepped down and was appointed as the Tajik Ambassador to Russia. In 1994, he took part in the first presidential election in Tajikistan. Official reports said he lost to Emomalii Rahmon, the incumbent president of Tajikistan.
Abdullajanov left Tajikistan after the election and took up residence in Russia. He moved to the United States in 1998.
Tajik authorities accused Abdullajanov of organizing an attempt upon the life of Rahmon on April 30, 1997. The president was injured in the leg. The ex-prime minister denied this in interviews.
According to Interpol, Abdullajanov is wanted by Tajikistan’s law-enforcement agencies for large-scale embezzlement, racketeering, participation in organized criminal groups, and attempts to organize a revolution, among other charges.
