The Prosecutor General's office accuses the opposition leader of bad embezzlement. He was on the international "wanted" list. Iskandarov is suspected of misappropriating two million US dollars while he was Tajikgas Co. Director. Criminal proceedings were launched against him last August.
A Moscow police officer confirmed his detention to Novosti. He said Mahmadruzi Iskandarov is suspected of other grave crimes, as well-in particular, terror complicity. The Tajik top prosecutor's office has been informed about the detention, added our informant.
Iskandarov's involvement is alleged in setting up an illegal paramilitary force in Garm, an area in the Tajik east. He is also suspected of budget embezzlement, Novosti heard from competent Tajik law enforcement officers.
He may be indicted for patronage of Yeribek Ibrahimov's paramilitary force. Warlord Ibrahimov, alias Sheikh, was prominent on the now dispersed Muslim opposition. His gang was active for several years in the Tajikabad District, Iskandarov's birthplace.
The gang attacked the Tajikabad police precinct and prosecutor's office toward last August's end to kill a policeman and wound another. Sheikh and twenty of his men were seized in an Interior Ministry operation, September 2. A gang cachet was found with a considerable arsenal. Among other weaponry and munitions, it had 15 anti-tank guided missile launchers, ten Needle AA missile launchers, four Kalashnikov machine guns, two automatics, 113 anti-tank grenade thrower rounds, 133 jet-propelled missiles of various makes, a Grad installation, an artillery piece from an APC, and more than five thousand cartridges.
Mahmadruzi Iskandarov was prominent on the armed Muslim opposition during the Tajik civil war of 1992-97. Sheikh was in his immediate subordination.
Iskandarov settled in Moscow, August last.
The Democratic Party of Tajikistan, with a 4,500 membership, previously intended to have 22 on its party ticket in a parliamentary election due early next year. Now, with its leader's detention, the party doubts it will run in the upcoming election at all, a prominent Democratic activist said to a news conference.
