DUSHANBE, April 13, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Commenting on a request by Tajik Prosecutor-General’s Office for extradition of him, the Charoghi Rouz monthly founder and editor Dodojon Atovulloyev told Asia-Plus by phone today that “by that request the Tajik authorities have discredited themselves, because no one country will extradite me.”

According to him, Tajikistan''s extradition request for him may put Russia and Germany into awkward situation.  “I have a special German passport but I often go to Russia and taking this fact in account, I think it will be quite difficult to extradite me,” Atovulloyev said.

In his opinion, refusal of extradition request may cause a new chill in relations between Tajikistan and Russia.

He said he is currently in one of European countries.  “I freely move around the world and I do not know where I will be tomorrow.  I have withdrawn from journalism and currently, I concentrate mainly on organizing and political tasks of the opposition movement, Vatandor; I am one of leaders of this organization,” Atovulloyev noted.

As before, he refused to name other leaders of the Vatandor movement, justifying that by saying that they want to remain unnamed fearing persecution by the Tajik authorities.