Summary Kuvvatov was formerly in President Emomali Rakhmon's inner circle but fell out of favor in 2012
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -Turkey s state-run news agency says a Tajik businessman and opposition figure has been shot dead in Istanbul.
Anadolu Agency said Friday Umarali Kuvvatov was killed by a friend in the street late Thursday after the two got into an argument. The private Dogan news agency, however, said that a third man approached the two and shot Kuvvatov in the head. Both the assailant and the friend escaped.
Kuvvatov was formerly in President Emomali Rakhmon s inner circle but fell out of favor in 2012 and fled Tajikistan.
Tajikistan s government in January asked Turkey to extradite Kuvvatov so that he could face charges of fraud and provoking political unrest.
Kuvvatov channeled his anti-government activities through Group 24, a movement that existed largely online and loosely united disparate critics of Rakhmon s regime.
