Is the president’s son strengthening his circle?

Shokhrukh Saidkhoda, head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, one of the closest friends of Rustam Emomali, the son of the President of Tajikistan, has received a new position.

According to the press center of the country’s president, on June 7, the Ministry of Internal Affairs made personnel changes in agreement with the President of Tajikistan. The press center’s statement indicates that “from among the young and experienced personnel of the sector,” heads of departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been appointed for the city of Dushanbe, Sughd region, in the Rasht district, head of the state service “Mukhofiz,” heads of public order protection departments, criminal investigation, communications, authorized representative of the Bureau for Coordination of the Fight Against Organized Crime of the CIS, national coordinator for police reform, heads of the first and second departments in the Sino and Firdavsi districts of Dushanbe, heads of departments in the Darvaz district of GBAO, cities and districts of Khujand, Kuhistoni Mastchoh, Devashtich and Istiklol in Sughd region, Khoroson, Nurek, Vakhsh, Kubodiyon, Jaihun and Panj in Khatlon region, as well as cities and districts under republican jurisdiction — Rogun, Faizabad, Gissar and Shahritus.

An informed source told Radio Ozodi that Shokhrukh Saidzoda has been appointed head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the city of Dushanbe, while the previous holder of this position, Barotali Hamidzoda, has been appointed head of the Public Order Protection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “Today, Saidzoda will be introduced to the personnel of the capital’s police,” the source noted.

It is still unknown to which positions the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Sughd region Abdullo Navjovonov, head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Rasht group of districts Bahodur Vakhobzoda, and head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Khatlon region Faizullo Nozimzoda will be appointed. Apparently, 37-year-old Shokhrukh Saidzoda is climbing higher up the career ladder. He is considered an important figure whose opinions are taken into account in decision-making at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Human rights defenders, however, say that during his tenure in the Criminal Investigation Department, there have been increased intrusions into the private lives of civil society activists, as well as torture and cruel treatment of detainees.

A source in the law enforcement agencies told Radio Ozodi that Shokhrukh Saidzoda’s subordinates can summon anyone for interrogation without any grounds and subject them to torture. “There are many complaints to the prosecutor’s office about the criminal investigation department employees, but neither the Ministry of Internal Affairs nor the prosecutor’s office investigates them, as they know that Shokhrukh is a friend of Rustam,” said the interlocutor of Radio Ozodi.