A court in Ukraine has ruled that former Tajik Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojonov can be held in detention for up to 40 days while authorities await documents from Dushanbe regarding his possible extradition.
Abdullojonov was arrested on February 5 at Boryspil Airport near Kyiv on an international warrant after arriving from the United States.
Abdullojonov, who challenged veteran Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in the 1994 presidential election, is accused by the 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.
For the past decade, he has lived in the United States.
In November 2012, Abdullojonov told RFE/RL that he had won the 1994 elections and accused Rahmon of electoral fraud.
Abdullojonov was arrested on February 5 at Boryspil Airport near Kyiv on an international warrant after arriving from the United States.
Abdullojonov, who challenged veteran Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in the 1994 presidential election, is accused by the 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.
For the past decade, he has lived in the United States.
In November 2012, Abdullojonov told RFE/RL that he had won the 1994 elections and accused Rahmon of electoral fraud.
