A court in Dushanbe sentenced Rahim Qalandarov to death

A court in Dushanbe sentenced Rahim Qalandarov to death. Qalandarov, 27, was found guilty of killing Saif Rahim, a well-known Tajik writer and former Chairman of the State Committee for Television and Radio-broadcasting. Saif Rahim was shot dead on May 20, 2000 in Dushanbe.
Qalandarov had been arrested on suspicion of having killed Saif Rahimov several days after the act but had not been found guilty and was sentenced to one and half years imprisonment for illegal possession of arms. He was re-arrested following his release from prison and tried on charges of terrorism.
Qalandarov pleaded not guilty in court, stating that a confession he had subsequently made regarding his guilt had been coerced out of him by police officers and made only "in order to live till the trial," Asia Plus Information Agency reported.
Qalandarov's barrister said he didn't agree with the court's decision and intend to appeal to the court of higher instance.