Tuesday, May 15, 2012 -
Uzbek law enforcement authorities said Tuesday they have launched an investigation into the abduction and murder of the country’s former culture and sports minister.
Anvar Jabborov was found dead in the Uzbek capital city on Sunday, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported officials as saying.
A relative said the ex-minister’s body suffered knife wounds, while his face was barely recognizable, the CA-News.org news agency reported.
Police began searching for the ex-minister on May 8, after relatives told authorities he was missing.
Jabborov, 55, was abducted three days earlier from his office at the Uzbek Museum organization in Tashkent, which he headed, they said.
Officials say his abductors are unknown.
An unofficial report that police detained a relative of Jabborov over the crime has not been confirmed by officials, CA-News said.
Before becoming chairman of the National Association of Museums of Uzbekistan, Jabborov was culture and sports minister from 2009 to 2011. He also served as a consultant of the president’s administration and led the pop singers’ association Uzbeknavo.