DUSHANBE -- Tajik authorities are investigating whether fugitive Interior Ministry (MVD) Col. Gulmurod Khalimov recently became the top military commander of the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported September 5.
Khalimov replaced Umar al-Shishani, who was reportedly killed in Iraq in July, Iraqi media reported September 3.
Khalimov fled to Syria last spring. He has been wounded seriously twice in combat, Tajik officials say. Before Khalimov joined ISIL, he was commander of OMON, the MVD's riot police.
