Gulmurod Khalimov

Gulmurod Khalimov
Birth name Gulmurod Khalimov
Born (1975-04-14) April 14, 1975
Varzob, Tajik SSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance  Tajikistan (unknown–2015)
 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2015–current)
Service/branch Ministry of Internal Affairs
Rank Lieutenant colonel (Tajikistan)
Commands held OMON

Gulmurod Salimovich Khalimov (Tajik: Гулмурод Салимович Ҳалимов) is a Tajik and Islamist military commander. A Lieutenant-Colonel, he was commander of the police special forces of the Interior Ministry of Tajikistan until 2015. He has since defected to join the Islamic State.[1][2][3] In September 2016 he was declared minister of war of IS.[4]

History

He was born 14 May 1975 in Varzob, Tajikistan, then part of the Soviet Union.[5]

US training

From 2003 to 2014, Khalimov participated in five counterterrorism training courses in the United States and in Tajikistan, through the United States Department of State's Diplomatic Security/Anti-Terrorism Assistance program.[6] He is therefore trained by Russian special forces (Spetsnaz) an later by US based military contractor (then named: Black Water).

Islamic State

He disappeared in late April 2015, and surfaced May 28, 2015 in an Islamic State video.[7]

Tajik reaction

Tajik Prosecutor-General Manuchehr Makhmudzod announced on May 29, 2015 that a probe had been opened into Khalimov's activities. The Prosecutor-General's Office said on June 3 that Colonel Gulmuro Khalimov is wanted for crimes including high treason and illegal participation in military actions abroad. "Acting for mercenary means, he joined the international terrorist organization calling itself Islamic State," the statement said.[8][9]

US and UN sanctions

On September 29, 2015 he was made subject to sanctions by the United States Department of State.[10] He was also made subject to sanctions by the United Nations Security Council Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee on 29 February 2016.[11]

In August 2016, the United States Department of State issued a $3 million USD bounty on Khalimov under its Rewards for Justice program.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Tajikistan special forces chief Gulmurod Khalimov 'joins IS'". BBC News. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Police Commander From Tajikistan Appears in ISIS Video". The New York Times. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "The U.S.-trained commander of Tajikistan's special forces has joined the Islamic State". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. ↑ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/isis-us-trained-tajik-special-150308829.html
  5. ↑ "Counter Terrorism Designations". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  6. ↑ CNN, Dugald McConnell and Brian Todd. "Man who joined ISIS trained in the US". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Commander of elite Tajik police force defects to Islamic State". 28 May 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2016 – via Reuters.
  8. ↑ RFE/RL (30 May 2015). "U.S. Confirms Training Tajik Ex-Police Commander Who Joined IS". Retrieved 30 July 2016 – via Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
  9. ↑ Service, RFE/RL's Tajik (3 June 2015). "Tajik OMON Commander Wanted For Treason". Retrieved 30 July 2016 – via Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
  10. ↑ "Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  11. ↑ "Gulmurod Khalimov - United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  12. ↑ "State Dept. offers $3M reward for U.S.-trained Tajik officer who went rogue for ISIS". Washington Times. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
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