Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who is also Head of the Government, has sacked director of the Export Development Agency under the Government of Tajikistan.
By government’s decree issued on September 29 Shavkat Bobozoda was relieved of his post of Director of the Export Development Agency.
Bobozoda had served as Director of the Export Development Agency under the Government of Tajikistan since 2019. Prior to this he had served as Minister of Industry since 2013.
The reasons for his dismissal are not stated in the decree.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reported early this week that Shavkat Bobozoda has been arrested on suspicion of a large-scale fraud. According to Radio Ozodi, Bobozoda is currently held in the Interior Ministry-run investigatory isolation ward. Investigators of the Prosecutor-General’s Office are conducting an investigation into his case.
Some sources say that if Bobozoda is convicted, he could face a large fine or imprisonment for a term of 8 to 12 years.
It’s reported that Bobozoda was detained at the request of a foreign company, from which the official reportedly received US$300,000, but didn’t fulfill the terms of the contract, and embezzled the money. The name of the company is not disclosed.
There has been no official announcement of Bobozoda’s detention so far.
The Export Development Agency was established in September 2018 and it began its work 2019. The agency was established to enhance Tajikistan’s export potential. The agency, in particular, seeks partners and consumers for Tajik exports abroad.
In addition, the agency is dedicated to improve the skills of employees of exporting companies and develop proposals for improving legislation to step up exports.
