Government reshuffles continue

A number of government officials have been relieved of their positions, some of them appointed to new roles.

Photo: Internet

As a result of the reshuffles on January 11, two deputy mayors of the capital, Rustam Emomali, Umid Gurezoda and Dilshod Odinazoda, were relieved of their positions. Also dismissed were the head of the Firdausi district, Fathiddin Usmonzoda, the head of the Sino district, Nusratullo Salimzoda, and his deputy, Ruslan Rajab.

Deputy Mayor Umid Gurezoda was removed from his position and replaced Fathiddin Usmonzoda as the head of the Firdausi district. Ruslan Rajab replaced Sharif Sami as the head of the Ismoili Somoni district. Tojididdin Saidzoda, who previously headed the executive office of the mayor of Dushanbe, was appointed as the head of the Sino district.

A source in the Khatlon region government told Asia-Plus that Jamshid Saidzoda was removed from the position of head of the Yovon district. The new head of the district is Bakhtier Sharifi, who previously held the position of first deputy minister of industry and new technologies of Tajikistan.

The mayor of Bokhtar, Sidjouddin Salomzoda, has been removed from his position. He has been replaced by Faizullo Barotzoda, who previously served as the head of the Lakhsh district.

In place of Barotzoda, the former deputy head of the Dangara district, Kiroomidin Kholzoda, was appointed as the head of the Lakhsh district. The head of the Rudaki district, Azizullo Ismatzoda, was also relieved of his position.

Nurollo Mirzozoda, who previously served as deputy mayor of Bokhtar, has been appointed as the head of the Hamadoni district.

It is currently unknown what positions Sidjouddin Salomzoda, Dilshod Odinazoda, and Fathiddin Usmonzoda have taken.

According to sources from Asia-Plus, Sharif Sami, the head of the Ismoili Somoni district, was dismissed due to reaching retirement age. He had held this position since 2017.

However, “Bomdod,” citing its sources, reports that Sharif Sami was removed from his position due to dissatisfaction from the mayor of Dushanbe, Rustam Emomali, regarding his work in addressing the aftermath of the snowfall that hit Tajikistan on January 10.

About Sharif Sami, the former mayor of Bokhtar and former head of “Barki Tojik,” the press reported last November when his son, Zafarjon Sami, the head of the VIP lounge at Dushanbe International Airport, was injured during a fight at one of the capital’s restaurants.

Personnel changes have occurred before, with several officials being relieved of their positions and some appointed to new ones.

Traditionally, personnel changes in Tajikistan occur annually in January. Most experts consider these changes ineffective. According to them, the Emomali Rahmon regime usually does not pay attention to competence, qualifications, knowledge, and skills. The main criteria for personnel selection are family ties or proximity to the president’s family.

Experts refer to personnel changes in the Tajik government as “reshuffles,” as most officials are dismissed from one position and appointed to another without regard for achievements, knowledge, and competence.