Official detained on charges of embezzling state funds

The head of the postal department in the city of Gissar is accused of embezzling over 100,000 somoni of state funds.

According to the Anti-Corruption Agency of Tajikistan, Karimova N.R., the director of the Postal Communication Center in Gissar, embezzled over 100,000 somoni intended for newspaper and magazine subscriptions and spent them for personal purposes.

The anti-corruption agency reports that Karimova collected 365,178 somoni for subscriptions to newspapers and magazines for educational institutions in Gissar for the years 2024–2025. Of this amount, she transferred 261,771 somoni to the Center’s account, while the remaining 103,406 somoni she embezzled.

A criminal case against Karimova has been initiated under Article 245, Part 3, Clause “a” of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan (theft in especially large amounts). The investigation has already been completed, and the case has been sent to court for consideration.

If found guilty, Karimova faces 6 to 10 years in prison.

The anti-corruption agency did not specify when exactly the former head of the postal service in Gissar was detained. There are also no comments from the accused, her relatives, or her lawyer.

Corruption and embezzlement of state property among officials in Tajikistan have become commonplace, and no institution has yet been able to effectively combat bribery and abuses.

Meanwhile, in February of this year, the director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Sulaymon Sultonzada, reported at a press conference that in 2024, 2,323 corruption crimes committed by employees and officials were registered, and the amount of stolen state funds totaled 425.7 million somoni.