Attack on Atovulloyev may have been politically motivated, says Tajikinfo editor

DUSHANBE, January 16, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- An attack on Dodojon Atovulloyev may have been politically motivated because he is conducting political activity and outspoken critic of the Tajik government, Muhammad Egamzod, the head of the Moscow-based media holding Tajinfo, told Asia-Plus in an interview on January 16.

“Therefore, suspicion falls, first of all, on the Tajik authorities,” Egamzod noted, commenting on the possibility that the attack may have been hired from Dushanbe.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, however, stated that official Dushanbe is interested in soon solution of this crime, and thereby, it denies any speculations about involvement of the Tajik authorities in this crime,” said Egamzod.  “It would be good if the Tajik law enforcement authorities cooperated with their Russian colleagues in solving this crime.”

He further added that it could not be ruled out that opponents of the Tajik authorities were involved in the attack on the Tajik dissident journalist.

“May be this attack is a purposeful action ahead of presidential elections that will take place in Tajikistan in 2013,” said the Tajinfo editor.  “In this case, Russia, in territory of which this crime was committed, is also interested in soon solution of this crime and punishment of criminals, because the attack was conducted on foreign national who was granted political asylum in Germany.”

He also noted that the attack could be the result of confrontation between various groups of Tajiks living in the Russian Federation.  “Such cases have become more frequent in recent years,” said Egamzod.  “Dodojon Atovulloyev was one of the most outspoken critics of the Tajik authorities during the spat between Russia and Tajikistan last November over the jailing of Russian and Estonian pilots in Tajikistan.  Not all Tajiks living in Russia apprehended the statements made by Atovulloyev in the Russian press and on the Russian TV identically.  There were those who were strongly against the statements made by Dodojon Atovulloyev and they may have taken revenge on him.”

He also does not rule out that the attack could be just a domestic crime.