New “shuffles” in the structures of several ministries

As part of new personnel changes, President Emomali Rahmon has relieved some employees of embassies and ministries from their positions.

According to the president’s press service, on November 14, 2025, he relieved Zavkizoda Zavki Amin from the position of Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan and appointed him Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United States of America.

In this position, Zavkizoda replaced Hamralizoda Farrukh Makhmud, who held the post for five years. The president relieved him of his position as ambassador to the USA with the wording “in connection with a transition to another job,” but it is currently unknown what that job is.

The new Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan is Abdurakhmonzoda Abdurakhmon Safarali, who previously served as Deputy Chairman of the city of Dushanbe. He is also the brother of the Prosecutor of Dushanbe, Mizrobsho Abdurakhmonzoda.

Additionally, as a result of the personnel changes, Jamolidin Ubaidullo, the son of former Dushanbe mayor and Chairman of the Majlisi Oli Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloev, who previously held the position of Ambassador of Tajikistan to France and Italy, was relieved of his position as ambassador to France. However, since Tajikistan has opened its embassy in Italy, Jamolidin remains the ambassador of Tajikistan to Italy.

The new ambassador of Tajikistan to France is Jamshid Khamidzoda, who previously served as the head of the Department of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan.

Also, by his decree, President Rahmon relieved Kalandar Idibek from the position of Ambassador of Tajikistan to Austria and concurrently Ambassador to Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Norway, and Permanent Representative of the country to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Austria is now Jobir Manuchehr. It is unknown whether Jobir Manuchehr will represent Tajikistan in other countries and at the OSCE.

The president’s press service also reported that there were personnel changes among the general consuls of Tajikistan in several cities and regions of Russia.

In particular, Khurshed Sheralizoda, who previously held the position of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed General Consul in St. Petersburg. He is the son of Gul Sherali, a former Minister of Energy and Industry, and his brother Ashraf Gulov currently serves as the Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United Arab Emirates and is the son-in-law of President Emomali Rahmon.

Furthermore, for the first time, a woman has been appointed to the position of General Consul. Zarina Ismoilzoda, formerly Deputy Head of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has become the General Consul of Tajikistan in Novosibirsk.

According to reports, annual personnel changes in Tajikistan are considered a common practice; however, many experts refer to them as reshuffles.

Experts refer to the personnel changes in the ministries and agencies of Tajikistan as mere “shuffles,” since most officials are relieved of one position and appointed to another without regard to personal achievements, knowledge, and skills, largely based on personal connections, particularly regional affiliations, family ties, and bribery.