Khamidov, Abdurashid
Who, Why and How exiled: Khomidov is a member of the ‘Group 24’ political opposition movement. In autumn 2014 the Supreme Court of Tajikistan recognised it as an extremist organisation for its activists criticising the Tajik authorities. In March 2015 its founder and leader Umarali Kuvvatov was murdered in Istanbul; Khomidov was his confidant. He was detained by the Turkish police on 15 April 2016 (Fergana News, 2017).
Stage 1 details (accusations/ charges/ Interpol notice/ extradition requests): Abdurashid Khamidov is persecuted by Tajikistan for his opposition activities as a member of the Group-24 (AHRCA,2016).
Stage 2 details (arrest/ detention/ extradition): On 19 December 2016 Mr Khamidov was arrested the first time, together with Mr Kuvatov, in Turkey. He has been under the arrest since 15 April 2016 at the request of the Tajik authorities, who justified their request by the fact that Khomidov poses a threat to security and can commit terrorist attacks (Fergana News, 2017). In April 2017 he has been released.
Legal status (refugee/ asylum seeker/ resident): Khomidov has been living in Turkey since 2014. In 2015 Mr Khamidov applied for international protection at the UNHCR office in Ankara (AHRCA, 2016).
Current status: In April 2017 Abdurashid Khomidov (Khamidov) was released from the custody centre in the Turkish city of Adana. The Turkish authorities have not found any convincing evidence of Abdurashid Khomidov's guilt and decided to release him from custody (Fergana News, 2017).
Press sources: Fergana News (2017). Tajikistani opposition ‘Group 24’ activist released from detention in Turkey. Feragana News, 23 April. Available at: http://enews.fergananews.com/news.php?id=3301&mode=snews AHRCA, 2016. We call on Turkey to stop the extradition of Abdurashid Khamidov - a citizen of Tajikistan. AHRCA 04.August. Available at: http://www.ahrca.eu/tadjikistan/refugees/902-we-call-on-turkey-to-stop-the-extradition-of-abdurashid-khamidov-a-citizen-of-tajikistan