Dismissed for incompetence generals received new positions

Two Interior Ministry generals, dismissed after criticizing the president, have received new high-ranking positions.

Former head of the Kulob city police Fotekh Kungurotzoda and former head of the Interior Ministry for the Khatlon region Faizullo Nozimzoda, who were previously disgracefully removed from their positions after criticizing the president, have been appointed to other high-ranking positions within the Interior Ministry a year later.

By a decree of President Emomali Rahmon dated April 22 of this year, General Fotekh Kungurotzoda has been appointed as the first deputy head of the Interior Ministry for the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, while Major General of Police Faizullo Nozimzoda has been appointed as the deputy head of the State Service “Mukhofiza” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan.

It should be noted that these two high-ranking officials were removed from their positions after sharp criticism from the president during a Security Council meeting on January 19, 2024, which included heads of the prosecutor’s office, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the State National Security Committee, and the Interior Ministry.

At that meeting, Emomali Rahmon himself acknowledged that, in addition to the rise of corruption and bribery among law enforcement officers and officials, there had been an increase in extremist and terrorist crimes, drug trafficking, and the involvement of some law enforcement and supervisory officials in the illegal drug trade, which indicates a “low professional level, incompetence in performing official duties, hiring random and unprofessional individuals into the ranks of the agencies, and improper selection and placement of personnel by the heads of the agencies.”

The reason for the dismissal of the heads of disciplinary and law enforcement agencies in the Khatlon region and other regions of the country was due to “numerous cases of violations and non-compliance with the requirements of legislation and military regulations.”

Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda also stated at a press conference that the mentioned individuals were dismissed for gross violations and negligence and will no longer work in the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan.

It remains unclear why these individuals, whom Emomali Rahmon himself called “incompetent,” were reappointed to key positions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs by his own decree.

However, experts say that such cases are not unprecedented in the country. Habibullo Vohidzada, who was recently appointed Attorney General, was dismissed in early 2015 after Rahmon’s harsh criticism at a Security Council meeting, and shortly thereafter resumed his work as the prosecutor of Sughd province (2015-2020).

At the same time, experts note that this case is not unprecedented. For example, Habibullo Vohidzada, recently appointed Attorney General, was dismissed in early 2015 after sharp criticism from Rahmon at a Security Council meeting, but soon after was reappointed as the prosecutor of Sughd province, where he worked from 2015 to 2020.

It is also reported that by his decrees, Rahmon appointed heads of 18 Ministry of Internal Affairs bodies, including in Gissar and Vahdat, Kanibadam, and the Danghara district, as well as in the capital districts of Firdavsi and Shohmansur. Colonel Ilkhomidin Valizoda, who previously held the position of head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Bobojon Gafurov district, has been appointed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan.

Traditionally, personnel reshuffles in Tajikistan are carried out annually in January. Most experts believe that these reshuffles are merely a façade of activity. They argue that when appointing individuals to government positions, Emomali Rahmon typically does not consider qualifications, knowledge, and skills. The criterion for selecting personnel in most cases is nepotism and proximity to the president’s family.

Experts refer to personnel changes in Tajikistan’s ministries and agencies as mere “shuffles,” as most officials are relieved of one position and appointed to another without regard to personal achievements, knowledge, and skills.