Authorities are collecting funds from the public for the Culture Days in Kazakhstan

In Tajikistan, the heads of several rural jamoats, under the pretext of participating in the Days of Tajik Culture in Kazakhstan, are demanding 500 kg of almonds and pistachios or their equivalent in cash.

The head of one of the mahallas, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Azda TV on August 16 during a phone call that the heads of the cities of Gissar, Tursunzoda, Vahdat, and other districts and cities of the Republican Subordination Districts are demanding large sums of money from the rural jamoats. The heads of the rural jamoats have placed this responsibility on the heads of the mahallas, who in turn are demanding money from the population.

“The head of the rural jamoat told us that the Days of Tajik Culture will take place in Kazakhstan with the organization of an agricultural products fair, and instructed us to collect money from the population instead of agricultural products. I told the head that collecting money from the population during this period would provoke an increase in the people’s hatred towards the authorities. Now people are avoiding me in every way. But the head of the rural jamoat said that our jamoat was tasked with collecting 500 kg of pistachios, and if we cannot collect it, each jamoat will have to gather 18-20 thousand dollars. We have to collect and transfer this amount in 3-4 days; there is no other way,” says our interlocutor.

This mahalla head says that the city mayor has assigned something special to each jamoat; for example, some jamoats have been tasked with collecting pistachios, others with grapes, and a third group with up to 10 tons of various dried fruits. The heads of the jamoats say that if they do not collect this agricultural product, they must collect money from the population.

From August 26 to 28 of this year, the Days of Tajik Culture will take place in the city of Shymkent, Kazakhstan, with the organization of an agricultural products fair.

However, the authorities of Tajikistan are collecting money from the population to conduct this event.

On August 15 of this year, the portal Isloh.net reported that the head of the Sughd region, Rajabboy Ahmadzoda, instructed the heads of cities and districts in the region to collect up to 300 thousand dollars for the Days of Tajik Culture in Kazakhstan and to hand it over to him.

The Isloh.net portal, citing its source in the administration of the city of Kanibadam, reports that residents have complained about the inappropriate behavior of the city mayor, Abdusalom Tukhtasunzoda, who is coercing people and collecting money from them.

Additionally, the news portal “Bomdod,” citing its sources, reports that the head of the Rasht district is constantly demanding exorbitant sums or products from the heads of rural jamoats for various events.

Dissatisfied heads of jamoats reported to “Bomdod” that “the district chairman Rahimjon Mukimi urgently demanded that they collect 15 tons of potatoes, 20 tons of fruits, 10 tons of honey, and hundreds of handicraft products for this event in Kazakhstan, including a huge eastern kat (bed) measuring 3x4m, 100 handmade tubeteikas, each costing at least 200 somoni (around 18 US dollars), and other products. The total amount of products they are required to collect, according to the heads of jamoats, is at least 1 million somoni, or about 90 thousand dollars.”

On June 19, 2023, the Ambassador of Tajikistan in Kazakhstan Khayrullo Ibodzoda met with the Minister of Culture of Kazakhstan Askhat Oralov, where the parties discussed the issues of holding the Culture Days of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Republic of Kazakhstan and organizing an exhibition of agricultural products.

Previously, the Minister of Culture of Tajikistan Zulfiya Davlatzoda also raised this issue with representatives of the Kazakh government.

Users on social media are questioning what the point is of creating difficulties for residents and forcing them to raise money if the government of Tajikistan is unable to finance its Culture Days in another country?

Heads of mahallas and jamoats complain that city and district chairmen have been tormenting residents with demands for excessive amounts of money over the past two weeks in the Sughd and Khatlon regions and in the regions under republican subordination. Where is the government looking? Is power really about oppressing residents?