Millions in Damage and Hundreds of Crimes in One Region: Why the Anti-Corruption Strategy is Failing?

In the Sughd region, authorities report an increase in cases of embezzlement of state property, data falsification, and other corruption-related crimes.

According to the Agency for State Financial Control and the Fight Against Corruption of Tajikistan, such crimes are most frequently identified in sectors where citizens interact daily with government bodies, particularly in healthcare, education, energy, employment, and land departments.

It has been reported that in the first half of this year, officials from the Main Directorate of the Anti-Corruption Agency in the Sughd region uncovered 241 corruption-related crimes. The total damage is estimated at 28 million somoni.

The agency stated that of the damage incurred, 25.6 million somoni has been recovered, including 15 million returned to the state budget and 10.6 million to citizens and entrepreneurs.

The highest number of corruption crimes was found in the city of Khujand, with 74 cases. This was followed by the Bobojon Gafurov district with 48 cases, Guliston with 23, Isfara and the Jabbor Rasulov district with 19 each, Devashtich with 14, and Spitamen with 8 cases.

At the same time, in some cities and districts, the number of such crimes has decreased compared to the first half of 2025. For instance, 6 cases were identified in Kanibadam, 4 in the Ahsht district, 2 in Shahristan, and 1 each in Istaravshan and the Zafarobod district.

Experts believe that the rise in such crimes in cities and large districts is linked to more extensive economic activity, with a significant number of enterprises, shopping centers, schools, hospitals, and other institutions. Despite this, they also point to insufficient oversight of legal compliance, weak preventive measures against corruption, and the involvement of anti-corruption agency staff in such schemes.

However, the Anti-Corruption Agency believes that merely strengthening control is not enough; society needs to change its attitude toward corruption. Shodkom Tursunzada, an official from the anti-corruption agency in the Sughd region, stated that the government must ensure cooperation with civil society to create an environment where adherence to laws and an uncompromising stance against corruption become the norm.

It is important to note that Tajikistan is currently implementing the “State Strategy for Combating Corruption in the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030.” This document aims to improve legislation, enhance the use of digital technologies to ensure the transparency of government activities, and increase the legal literacy of the population.

However, despite these efforts, the director of the Agency for State Financial Control and the Fight Against Corruption of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sulaymon Sultonzada, reported during a press conference on July 22 that the anti-corruption agency uncovered 1,321 corruption and financial crimes of a corrupt nature nationwide in the first half of the year. Of these, 591 crimes involving 561 individuals were registered by law enforcement agencies.

According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by the international organization Transparency International, Tajikistan ranked 166th out of 182 countries in 2025, with a score of 17, placing it among the most corrupt nations.