BAHROM SODIROV SENTENCED TO DEATH.

The Supreme Court of Tajikistan announced on October 9 that it has sentenced warlord Bahrom Sodirov to death on multiple charges including banditry and terrorism. Bahrom had been captured last year. His elder brother Rizvon was killed in a clash with security forces last December (Russian agencies, October 9).

Rizvon Sodirov was chief of staff of the United Opposition forces, but was dismissed from that post in 1995 on suspicion of treason and collusion with the government. Rizvon and Bahrom then defected openly to Dushanbe, received official accolades and were used by the government to wreak havoc in opposition ranks. Ultimately the brothers became expendable to the government as it moved toward accommodation with the opposition, which in turn demanded that the Sodirovs be apprehended and put on trial. Cornered with their detachment in the mountains last year, the Sodirovs made a narrow escape after kidnapping UN personnel and Russian journalists, in a hostage drama that captured world attention. The brothers and their loyal troops were eventually hunted down by government and opposition forces in a rare display of cooperation.–VS

RUSSIA SEEKS OPEN-ENDED MILITARY PRESENCE IN TAJIKISTAN.