KULOB, July 13, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The Kulob police department chief Abdulvahhob Iskandarov has denied rumors that local police allegedly try to catch persons detained for June 14 fans riot having contacts with the arrested prominent businessmen and banker from southern Tajikistan Safarmad Rustamov as absolutely “unfounded.”

“We do not have grounds for connecting fans riot in Kulob and head of Orienbonk’s branch in Muminobod district Safarmad Rustamov,” Iskandarov said, noting that Rustamov was detained two weeks after the riots took place.

Moreover, it was found out that Rustamov’s car also suffered during the fans riots in Kulob and earlier, supporters of the Ravshan soccer club from Kulob, who arrived in the northern city of Chkalovsk to watch a game between Ravshan and Khujand, quite originally showed their “gratitude” to Safarmad Rustamov, who lodged them in his hotel.  They stole several telephone sets from the hotel.  

As afar as the June 14 fans riot is concerned, 103 persons participating in the fans riots were brought to the Kulob police station.  After detailed analysis of the event, 4 of them were arrested and 12 others gave written undertakings not to leave the city before the trial.  Besides, 12 other participants in the riot were fined for disorderly conduct and released.

We will recall that Nourullo Rustamov, the brother of Safarmad Rustamov, said that his brother was detained by Kulob police on July 1 and taken to Dushanbe.

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on July 7 that a source at the Kulob police said on condition of anonymity that Safarmad Rustamov was accused of several crimes, including organizing an illegal group.

Some local experts noted that Rustamov''s detention might be connected with the riots that broke out in Kulob on June 14 after angry fans of the local soccer team, Ravshan Kulob, accused referees of favoring the Istiqlol team.

But Ravshan deputy manager Akram Huseinov said that Rustamov never provided any financial support to the club.

Safarmad Rustamov has headed Orienbonk’s branch in Muminobod for several years and his is considered to be one of close allies of the Orienbonk head Hasan Asadullozoda in the Kulob region.