DUSHANBE, July 1, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Two inmates of the Khujand jail that were serving long sentence for grave crimes have attempted to escape.  One of jailbreakers has been killed while the other has managed to escape, Asia-Plus has learned at the Ministry of Interior (MoI).   

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, a high-raking MoI official said that the incident took place today early in the morning, at 3:30 a.m.  One of jailbreakers was killed, while the other managed to escape, according to the MoI official said.   

“The killed inmate was identified as Russian national – he was recidivist from Russia’s Mordovia by origin,” said the official, “The criminal who managed to escape is resident of the city of Khujand Bakhtiyor Barotov, 37, who was serving 20-year sentence for killing.”   

The Sughd law enforcement agencies have launched an operation to detain the fugitive.