Tajik man who fatally shot 2 at Moldova airport is needed in a kidnapping case in his native nation

A Tajikistan nationwide who fatally shot two safety officers at Moldova’s essential worldwide airport is needed in his native nation in relation to the kidnapping of a neighborhood financial institution official, Tajik authorities mentioned.

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Tajikistan named the assailant as Rustam Ashurov, saying he’s a member of an “organized criminal group” that on June 23 kidnapped the deputy chairman of a Tajik financial institution in Dushanbe, the nation’s capital.

The prosecutor’s workplace mentioned that after a prison investigation was launched, Ashurov, 43, a resident of Dushanbe, fled to Moldova by way of Turkey “with the aim of going into hiding in EU countries.”

After arriving at Chisinau International Airport in Moldova’s capital on Friday, he was denied entry into the nation and grabbed a guard’s weapon as he was being escorted away by officers, in keeping with authorities. He fatally shot two safety officers. One traveler was additionally wounded within the assault.

Ashurov sustained critical accidents and was hospitalized after particular forces intervened to subdue him, mentioned Moldova’s appearing prosecutor basic, Ion Munteanu. Prosecutors are investigating the incident as a potential terrorist assault, he added.

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu mentioned in an announcement Friday that the 2 fatalities included a border police officer and an airport safety worker.

The head of Moldova’s police, Viorel Cernauteanu, informed reporters that there was no wider threat to the nation from the incident.

Asked if Ashurov had connections to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Cernauteanu mentioned there was no proof that the suspect “has relationships with military or paramilitary structures” and he was not listed in any worldwide search system.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, neighboring Moldova – a rustic with a inhabitants of about 2.6 million folks, and a European Union candidate since June 2022 – has confronted an extended record of crises.

They included an acute winter power disaster after Russia dramatically diminished gasoline provides and recurring anti-government protests organized by a now-outlawed Russia-friendly political occasion in opposition to the ruling pro-Western administration.

Moldova’s leaders have additionally repeatedly accused Moscow of conducting campaigns to attempt to destabilize the nation, which, like Tajikistan, was a Soviet republic till 1991.