DUSHANBE, January 29, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Tajik officials are in Dubai for talks on the possible extradition of a Tajik opposition figure to Dushanbe, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports.

Umarali Quvatov was arrested on December 23 in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) at the request of Tajik authorities who accuse him of committing fraud worth $1.2 million.

Quvatov’s aide, Nikolai Nikolayev, told RFE/RL on January 29 that Tajik officials are demanding Quvatov''s extradition without a preliminary hearing into his case.

Nikolayev said the hearings will probably take place because the United Arab Emirate''s laws do not allow extradition to a country where a defendant can be tortured or killed.

Quvatov, a successful businessman, used to have very close ties to the family of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, RFE/RL said.

But last summer Quvatov left Dushanbe for Moscow and established a political group opposing President Rahmon.