DUSHANBE, April 1, 2014, Asia-Plus — Dushanbe’s Economic Court has invalidated privatization of three facilities by controversial Tajik tycoon Zayd Saidov on the basis of a suit filed by the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption.
Saidov’s defense lawyer, Ishoq Tabarov, says these facilities, including LLC Tojikmarmar (marble processing), Modnaya Tochka (boutique) and three-storey business center, are located in Dushanbe. “These facilities were privatized with participation of Zayd Saidov in 2002 and by court’s decision they will be nationalized,” the lawyer noted.
According to him, the ruling handed down by the court is illegal because twenty-two years have passed since the facilities were privatized and the term of recovery of claims expired.
“We will launch an appeal against the court’s decision,” Ishoqov said, noting that the anticorruption agency has applied to Dushanbe’s Economic Court for invalidating privatization of six facilities by Zayd Saidov.
“On April 2, Dusahnbe’s Economic Court is considering the suit filed by the anticorruption agency for invalidation of privatization of Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSK) Guliston. Ukrainian billionaire Dmitry V. Firtash assumes the 95% ownership interest and Zayd Saidov’s son, Khairullo Saidov, owns 5 percent of shares in this enterprise,” the lawyer added.
The Supreme Court sentenced Zayd Saidov, who is the leader of Tajikistan”s unregistered New Tajikistan party, to 26 years in prison and confiscation of property on December 25. The sentence followed his conviction on charges of financial fraud, polygamy, and sexual relations with a minor. The court also imposed an 80,000-smoni fine and stripped Zayd Saidov of all previous state honors and awards. Zayd Saidov is also barred from doing business for five years after release.
Saidov”s supporters say the case against him was politically motivated.
