In 1994, he ran in the second presidential elections in Tajikistan but, according to official reports, lost to Emomali Rahmon, Tajikistan's current president. After that, he left Tajikistan, stayed in Russia for several years, then moved to the United States in 1998 and lived there since then; Abdullajanov had refugee status there. Abdullajanov was detained at Boryspil International Airport (near Ukrainian capital Kyiv) on the request of the Tajik authorities upon arriving from Los Angeles on 5 February 2013.
In 1994, he ran in the second presidential elections in Tajikistan but lost to Emomali Rahmon. Afterward, he left Tajikistan and spent time in Russia before moving to the United States; Abdullajanov had refugee status there. Abdullajanov was detained at Boryspil International Airport (near Ukrainian capital Kyiv) by the Tajik authorities upon arriving from Los Angeles on February 5, 2013.