Tajik Court Sentences Former Anti-Corruption Officials to Decades in Prison over Financial Fraud Cases
Former Deputy Head of the Investigations Department at Tajikistan’s State Anti-Corruption Agency Sentenced to 15 Years
According to Avesta.tj news agency, Firuz Kholmurodzoda, a former deputy head of the investigations department at Tajikistan’s State Anti-Corruption Agency, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Kholmurodzoda is among the first high-ranking officials arrested during a crackdown in April.
Previous Investigations into Financial Fraud Cases
Kholmurodzoda, who previously led investigations into the financial fraud case of Tajik tycoon and former Industry Minister Zayd Saidov in 2013, was charged with bribery and power abuse. Saidov was also sentenced to 26 years in prison that same year over the same charges. International human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, criticized Saidov’s trial as politically motivated due to his public criticism of President Emomali Rahmon.
Other Convictions on the Same Day
Five other former government officials were convicted for bribery and fraud on the same day, according to reports from RFE/RL and Akhbor news agency.
- Former chief of the Department of Correctional Affairs at Dushanbe Prosecutor General’s Office, Amirsho Sultonzoda, was jailed for nine years.
- Kosim Saidzoda, former chief of the anti-corruption department at the Ministry of Transport, received a seven-year sentence.
The Trial of Thirteen Former High-Ranking Officials
The trial of 13 former top state officials charged with bribery and fraud began on July 19 in Dushanbe, according to reports from Asia-Plus and RFE/RL. Although the full list of the accused has not been disclosed, six of them worked at the State Anti-Corruption Agency. Three more individuals had previously served in the State Customs Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Previous Sentencings
Two ex-officials from the State Anti-Corruption Agency, Davlatbek Hayrzoda and Faridun Benazirzoda, were among the first to receive verdicts. They were sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for bribery.
Fakhriddin Bozorov, former deputy chief of the Customs Control Service, also received an eight-year sentence.