DUSHANBE, June 26, 2013, Asia-Plus – Known Tajik businessman and former industry ministry, Zayd Saidov, has refused services of one of his defense lawyers, Shavkat Qudratov.

Shavkat Qudratov says Zayd Saidov refused his services on June 25.  Qudratov further supposed that Zayd Saidov had refused his services under the pressure from investigators “in exchange for some eases.”

Two lawyers – Fakhriddin Zokirov and Ishoq Tabarov – are currently defending Zayd Saidov.

Zayd Saidov, who now faces charges of large scale fraud, large-scale corruption and polygamy, is currently being held at the pretrial detention facility of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS).

Zayd Saidov, who is initiator of formation of a “New Tajikistan” party, was detained on May 19 on charges of corruption.  He has been stripped of his parliamentary immunity.  On May 22, a court in Dushanbe’s Firdavsi district issued the arrest warrant for Zayd Saidov.  He was ordered held in pretrial detention for up to two months.  The court also ruled that Zayd Saidov cannot be released on bail.

The authorities have sequestrated property of Zayd Saidov and his nearest relatives.  The anticorruption agency has reportedly sent a letter to notarial service, noting that the property should not be put on sale until investigation complete.

To-date, five cars belonging to Zayd Saidov and his sons as well as their houses have been sequestrated.  Working premises and building sites have also been sequestrated but later they have been released.

On June 17, the investigation into the case of Zayd Saidov was classified as “secret.”

Saidov denies any wrongdoing and says his case is politically motivated.