Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tajikistan

Tajik President's Former Guard Gets Life For Coup Plot

General Ghaffor Mirzoev (file photo) (RFE/RL)

PRAGUE, August 12, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The former head of Tajikistan's presidential guards, Ghaffor Mirzoyev, has been sentenced to life in jail for planning a coup.

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August 12, 2006

His lawyer, Abdukayum Yusupov, said that his client did not plead guilty to any of the charges, which included sedition and murder, and will appeal the court's decision. The sentence was passed on August 11.

Mirzoyev commanded the presidential guard between 1995 until his dismissal in 2004. He was also the head of the country's counternarcotics agency.

Fifteen military officers have already received sentences, ranging from five to 16 years, for their role in the alleged coup plot in January 2004.

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