One of the leaders of an organized crime group of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in eastern Tajikistan, Tolib Ayembekov, and his followers have surrendered to authorities.
“My brothers and I surrendered in order to maintain peace and order in the country,” Ayembekov said encouraging other illegal armed groups to lay down their arms.
The authorities said that Ayembekov's group was behind the attack on Maj. Gen. Abdullo Nazarov, chief of the Tajikistan National Security Committee regional office, who was killed on July 21.
On August 10, two suspects, including one of Ayembekov's brothers, surrendered to authorities.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported earlier that Ayembekov was in a hospital in Khorog where he was being prepared for surgery.
Tajikistan's Prosecutor General's Office also accuses Ayembekov and three other leaders in smuggling drugs, precious stones, human trafficking, the establishment of armed groups and hostage-taking.
On July 24, Special Forces from the Presidential Guard, the National Security Committee, and the Interior Ministry held a special operation in eastern Tajikistan against a mafia-style group believed to be behind the murder of a top Tajik security general. Thirty members of the criminal group were killed and 40 detained. During the operation, 17 enforcement officers were killed and 40 were injured.
