Ozoda Rahmon’s husband starts a revolution in Tajikistan

The IRS company (Innovative Road Solutions LTD) announced a 70% increase in toll rates on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway “to prevent an increase in social burden.”

Photo: Internet

The IRS company’s statement indicates that the company raised the rates by 70% due to increased expenses in coordination with the Antimonopoly Service of Tajikistan.

The statement mentions that the company employs over 800 residents of the country, but they cannot increase their salaries due to the company’s rising costs.

Photo: Internet

It is reported that the change in rates is also related to inflation of the national currency, rising prices for equipment and construction materials for road maintenance, “the expiration of the service life of certain parts and elements of the Dushanbe-Chanak highway infrastructure,” and “the increase in social burden” in Tajikistan.

The IRS company is owned by Jamolidin Nuraliev, the husband of Ozoda Rahmon, the daughter of Emomali Rahmon. When the company signed a cooperation agreement with the government of Tajikistan in 2008-2009, it had no experience operating in any country. Members of parliament were even unaware of the company’s registration location. There was neither a legal address nor an email address. However, over the past 11 years, the company has established toll plazas on the internationally significant Dushanbe-Chanak highway, which generates an average of $40 to $50 million per year, while being officially exempt from all taxes and duties.

The owner of the company, Jamolidin Nuraliev, the son-in-law of President Emomali Rahmon, currently serving as the first deputy chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan, acknowledges in his statement that inflation in Tajikistan has increased by 130% over the past 11 years. However, instead of lowering toll prices and preventing price increases for goods and services, he is raising toll rates on the highway starting January 1, 2022, increasing the social burden on the population by more than 50%.

He fully understands that any increase in toll rates on the Dushanbe-Chanak paid highway will impact the economy of all of Tajikistan. Prices for travel and transportation of goods along this route will rise by at least 30%.

Photo: Internet

Nuraliev’s wife, Ozoda Rahmon, currently holds the position of head of the executive office of the President of Tajikistan and is considered one of the main candidates for the presidency in the event of a power transfer from her father to one of his children. Nuraliev aims to start a revolution in Tajikistan by raising toll rates on the internationally significant highway, initiating a price growth revolution that will increase the social burden on the population and provoke a wave of protests among the country’s citizens.

For several years now, Emomali Rahmon, while he is alive, has intended to transfer the presidency of Tajikistan to one of his children, Rustam Emomali or Ozoda Rahmon, but due to unfavorable conditions and the situation in the region, he has always been forced to postpone the power transfer process.

Photo: Internet

Nevertheless, some experts suggest that the power transfer in Tajikistan is likely to occur in 2022. The recent decision by the owner of IRS can be seen as a warning signal from Jamolidin Nuraliev to Emomali Rahmon that the son-in-law considers his wife Ozoda Rahmon a more worthy candidate than other family members and that she should become her father’s successor as president.

Despite the fact that high-ranking government officials in Tajikistan are officially prohibited from engaging in business, Emomali Rahmon’s son-in-law Jamolidin Nuraliev, in addition to the toll company, owns businesses in banking, construction, livestock, horticulture, insurance, and other sectors. He is considered one of the richest billionaires in the country.

Amrullohi Nizom, specially for Azda TV