DUSHANBE, September 12, 2012, Asia-Plus – Supporters and relatives Supporters and relatives of the former opposition commander from the Tajik Civil War Imomnazar Imomnazarov, who was killed in an attack on his home in Khorog on August 21, have denied a statement by Minister of Defense Sherali Khairulloyev that they allegedly did not allow the law enforcement to examine the scene of the murder as absolutely unfounded.

According to Imomnazarov’s supporters who wanted to remain unnamed, experts from the Khorog police department examined the scene of the murder and saw round the house and their work was shot on video.

A copy of video was provided to Asia-Plus.  The video shows four persons in camouflage inspecting the house of Imomnazar Imomnazarov.

Supporters and relatives of Imomnazarov also denied information that prosecutors were abducted before the beginning of a special operation as baseless.  According to them, several persons burst into the Khorog prosecutor’s office to get weapons only after an attack on the Khlebzavod neighborhood began.  “They detained the prosecutors after the attack began and took them to the Bar Khorog neighborhood,” witnesses say.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Sherali Khairulloyev said in an interview with Asia-Plus that a special operation had been launched in Khorog after several officers of the Prosecutor-General’s Office had been taken hostage.

The minister also claimed that residents of Khorog have not allowed the law enforcement officers to carrying out unbiased investigation into the murder of Imomnazarov.

We will recall that some media sources reported that Imomnazarov''s home was attacked at 3:30 a.m. local time on August 22, and that neighbors heard the sound of a grenade exploding followed by shooting from automatic weapons.  They also reported that Imomnazarov''s brother and several other people in the building were injured and brought to a local hospital.

Tajik law enforcement authorities denied that government forces were involved in the attack on Imomnazarov''s home.

Residents of Khorog are currently looking for President Emomali Rahmon’s visit to the region in the hope that he will settle the conflict that occurred in Khorog.  President’s visit to Khorog is scheduled for September 17-18.