DUSHANBE, February 29, 2016, Asia-Plus – A Turkish court has sentenced the killer of Tajik opposition leader to life imprisonment.

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports the Istanbul 19th High Criminal Court sentenced Sulaymon Qayumov to life imprisonment on February 26 for Tajik opposition leader Umarali Quvvatov.

Qayumov was reportedly also found guilty of an attempt to poison Umarali Quvvatov and members of his family.

We will recall that a prosecutor in the trial of Sulaymon Qayumov in August last year asked the court to sentence Qayumov to live in prison for killing Umarali Quvvatov.

Umarali Quvvatov was killed in Istanbul on March 5, 2015.

Umarali Quvvatov, who once had close ties with President Emomali Rahmon’s relatives but became an opponent, first made headlines in the summer of 2012 when he fled Tajikistan for Moscow.  There he formed an organization called Group 24, which he claims is a new political movement opposed to incumbent President Rahmon.

Quvvatov stayed in Russia and the United Arab Emirates before moving to Turkey.  On December 19, 2014, Umarali Quvvatov was arrested in Istanbul for visa violations, but he was released on February 3, 2015.  Umarali Quvvatov was shot dead by unidentified assailant in Istanbul, Turkey on March 5, 2015.

Tajikistan''s Supreme Court banned Group 24 on October 9, 2014 following growing government pressure on the opposition group after it used the Internet to call for street protests in the capital, Dushanbe, on October 10.

Supreme Court judge Salomat Hakimova ruled that Group 24 is an extremist organization, and therefore is banned in Tajikistan.  Its website and printed materials were also banned.

In March 2015, three persons were jailed in Tajikistan for alleged association with the Group, receiving sentences ranging from 16½ to 17½ years.  In April 2015, another two persons were sent into prison for 3½ and 3 years for alleged organization of the Group''s activities inside Tajikistan.