Slain Tajik Coal-Mine Director's Predecessor Questioned

A former director of a coal mine in Tajikistan's eastern district of Rasht has been brought to Dushanbe for questioning in connection with the shooting death of his successor earlier this month.

Sources in the Nazarailoq coal mine told RFE/RL on September 24 that police had taken 59-year-old Mahmadrajab Homidov along with eight men employed by the mine and three other local citizens to Dushanbe for interrogation.

In early September, Nazarailoq coal mine director Nuriddin Temirov, 55, was found mortally wounded in his office.

He died in hospital hours later.

Tajik Interior Minister Ramazan Rahimov announced then that he had taken the investigation into Temirov's murder under his personal control, but no suspects have yet been apprehended.