Emomali Rahmon has reopened a factory confiscated from Zaid Said

Ten years after the arrest of entrepreneur Zaid Said, Emomali Rahmon has finally been able to commission a small part of the chemical plant confiscated from him.

According to the press service of the President of Tajikistan, on April 25, during a working trip to the city of Levakant in the Khatlon region, Emomali Rahmon commissioned the Open Joint Stock Company “Azot,” which was previously owned by entrepreneur and former Minister of Industry Zaid Saidov and Ukrainian billionaire Dmitry Firtash.

The press service of the President of Tajikistan reported that Emomali Rahmon visited the Open Joint Stock Company “Azot” and commissioned the largest chemical plant in the country after repairs and reconstruction.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the plant, Emomali Rahmon stated that “the specialists and engineers of LLC ‘Asia Chemical’ completed the repair work at this facility on time and in accordance with international standards, with the project cost exceeding 400 million somoni.”

Despite the fact that the plant changed ownership four years ago, the authorities have not officially disclosed who owns the largest chemical plant in the country. Radio Ozodi previously reported that the plant was sold to LLC “Asia Chemical.”

A source from Azda TV in the Khatlon region, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that in Tajikistan, some brands belong to certain individuals. In particular, the brand “Orion,” such as “Orionbank,” “Orion-media,” “Orion Insurance,” and others belong to Hasan Asadullozoda, the brother-in-law of President Rahmon. The brand “Spitamen,” including “Spitamenbank,” “Spitamen Insurance,” and others belong to Jamolidin Nuriolizoda, the husband of Ozoda Rahmon.

According to the source, the brand “Asia” belongs to the head of the president’s security service, Major General Murodali Saidzoda (better known as Murodi kal (Murod the bald) or Murod Saidov). For example, the “Asia Shopping Center” near the Sultoni Kabir market in the capital, LLC “Asia M” in the Khatlon region, LLC “Asia Chemical,” and other companies that contain the word “Asia” in their name belong to Murodali Saidzoda, although they are officially registered under other individuals.

OJSC “Azot,” formerly known as the Vakhsh Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant, was founded in 1967. After many years of inactivity in the 90s, OJSC “AZOT” was privatized. The Group DF company of Ukrainian billionaire Dmitry Firtash acquired a controlling stake (75%). The remaining 20% of the company’s shares remained with the government of Tajikistan, while 5% of the shares were owned by Khayrullo Saidov, the son of successful Tajik entrepreneur Zaid Saidov.

The plant operated on gas imported from Uzbekistan. Starting in 2009, due to problems with the supply of Uzbek gas, the plant effectively ceased to function.

In 2013, Zaid Saidov, the head of the new political party “New Tajikistan,” was arrested and sentenced to a long prison term. All assets of Zaid Saidov and his family were confiscated by the authorities.

In 2014, by the decision of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan, the OJSC “Azot” plant was nationalized along with its equipment.