DUSHANBE, June 13, 2016, Asia-Plus – Ishoq Tabarov, a Tajik lawyer, who was representing Tajik tycoon Zayd Saidov, died in one of Dushanbe hospitals yesterday evening

His relatives say he had breathing problems and lost 20 kilograms over the past two months.

Ishoq Tabarov was reportedly hospitalized several days ago but physicians failed to diagnose illness he suffered from.

We will recall that two sons of Ishoq Tabarov have been jailed this year.     

His son Firouz Tabarov was sentenced to 13 1/2 years in prison in February for promoting anti-state propaganda.

Another son of Ishoq Tabarov, Daler Tabarov, was sentenced to six months in prison on June 2 for failure to report an unspecified crime.

Ishoq Tabarov told Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service earlier that the charges against his sons were politically motivated.

Tabarov was a lawyer for opposition businessman Zayd Saidov, the leader of the unregistered New Tajikistan opposition party.

Zayd Saidov has been serving a 29-year prison term since 2013.  He was found guilty of financial fraud, polygamy, and sexual relations with a minor.

Saidov and his supporters deny the charges, saying they are politically motivated.

Ishoq Tabarov told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service on March 14 that his family is coming under pressure from the authorities because of his professional activities.

Saidov''s other lawyer, Shuhrat Qudratov, was sentenced to nine years in prison on a bribe-taking charge in January 2015.