Suspect In Cleric Shooting Case Detained In Russia

Uzbek Imam Obidkhon Qori Nazarov

Media reports in Sweden say a suspect in an assassination attempt on a prominent Uzbek cleric has been arrested in Russia.

Imam Obidkhon Qori Nazarov has been hospitalized since he was shot at least three times in Sweden's town of Stromsund in February.

Nazarov, who has been living in Sweden since he was granted political asylum in 2006, is considered one of the most powerful opponents of Uzbek President Islam Karimov's regime.

Nazarov's son, Dovudkhon, confirmed to RFE/RL on October 12 that Swedish investigators had informed him that a man suspected in the attempted murder of his father had been arrested in Russia.

It is not clear when the arrest took place.

Swedish investigators said earlier that an Uzbek citizen, Yury Zhukovsky, 34, might be the one who conducted the attack.

Based on reporting by Espressen and RFE/RL's Uzbek Service