Prosecutor General's Office and Interior Ministry of Tajikistan issued a joint statement which says that Former Interior Minister Mahmadnazar Salikhov committed suicide by Makarov pistol at his house in Dushanba roughly at 20:00 on June 17, Asia-Plus news agency reported.
"It should be noted that over the past few months Salikhov has repeatedly been called to General Prosecutor's Office of Tajikistan to testify in a criminal case involving the murder of a former commander of OMON of the Tajik Interior Ministry Oleg Zakharchenko, for fact of use of official position, abuse of authority and willful hiding crimes committed by individual police officers, the statement said. However, Salikhov neglected official calls and did not come to General Prosecutor's Office without good reason. In this regard, the Prosecutor General's Office decided to forcibly bring former interior minister, but this could not be implemented. On June 17, it was decided to grant sanction for arrest of Salikhov who committed crimes against the interests of the public service."