Former Tajik Prime Minister Will Not Be Extradited To Dushanbe

Former Tajik Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov

Ukraine will not extradite Tajikistan's former Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov to his home country.

The Ukrainian prosecutor-general's press secretary Marharyta Velkova told RFE/RL by phone on April 4 that the decision was based on the fact that Abdullojonov has refugee status in the United States.

Abdullojonov was detained in February at Boryspil airport near Kyiv on an international warrant after arriving from the U.S.

Abdullojonov, who challenged long-time Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in presidential elections in 1994, is accused by Tajik authorities of involvement in a 1996 assassination attempt on Rahmon.

He is also accused of backing a 1998 militant attack in Sughd Province, and of organized crime and terrorism-related offenses.

Abdullojonov denies the charges.

He has lived in the United States for the past decade.