In 2024, the High Economic Court (HEC) of Tajikistan handled cases related to financial claims, credit obligations, and land disputes. This was announced at a press conference on February 6 by Ms. Zebonisso Abdullozoda, the newly appointed Chairperson of the HEC.
"Among the claims that were upheld are cases concerning bank debts to clients, violations of environmental legislation, and disputes over land plots," Abdullozoda stated.
According to her, the court ruled in favor of plaintiffs for a total amount exceeding 416 million somonis.
Some of the most high-profile cases in 2024 included: 1) claims related to environmental damage caused by the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation; 2) debts of Agroinvestbonk; 3) farmers’ disputes over land plots; and 4) claims by the Ministry of Finance against several companies
Environmental damage: ecologists demand accountability from irrigation officials
Currently, the HEC of Tajikistan is reviewing a lawsuit filed by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan against the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation. The case revolves around significant environmental damage inflicted on the country’s fish resources.
According to Sulaimon Qosimzoda, Deputy Chair of the HEC, the dispute is related to water supply from the Bahri Tojik (reservoir powering the Qairoqqum hydropower plant) to agricultural lands in the Sughd region. Due to the negligence of agency employees, a large quantity of fish and fish fry were swept away along with the water into irrigated fields.
The Committee for Environmental Protection estimates the damage to the ecosystem at 78 million somonis. The agency insists that those responsible be held accountable and that losses be compensated.
The court proceedings are still ongoing, and a final verdict has not yet been reached. Meanwhile, environmental activists and experts are calling for stricter oversight of water management organizations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Agroinvestbonk's debts: what about client payments?
The High Economic Court of Tajikistan reviewed lawsuits filed by clients against Agroinvestbonk, which owes depositors 532.2 million somonis. In 2024, the court ordered the bank to pay 63.9 million somonis to affected clients.
As of August 2024, the total outstanding liabilities of Agroinvestbonk amount to 1.6 billion somonis. This includes debts to various creditors, including private depositors and legal entities.
In May 2021, the National Bank of Tajikistan revoked the licenses of two major financial institutions – Agroinvestbonk and Tojiksodirotbonk. Following this, a compensation process for depositors began, running from June 2021 to June 2024. However, not all clients have been able to recover their funds.
In 2024, Agroinvestbonk partially fulfilled the court’s ruling, returning 63.9 million somonis to its clients. However, a significant debt remains, and the issue of full repayment remains unresolved.
Efforts are currently underway to recover loans issued by the bank. Among the borrowers are both legal entities and individuals. These funds could partially cover debts to depositors, but the speed of this process remains uncertain.
Clients awaiting repayment hope for further court decisions in their favor. However, given the scale of the bank’s debt burden, the prospects for full repayment remain unclear.
Tajikistan’s Ministry of Finance demands millions from Alimardonov companies
The Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan has filed lawsuits against several companies that have accumulated significant debts under loan agreements. Among the defendants are enterprises owned by the Alimardonov brothers (Murodali Alimardonov is the former head of the National Bank of Tajikistan also former chairman of Agroinvestbonk). Their total debt to banks exceeds 150 million somonis.
Specifically, the Ministry of Finance is demanding: 39,863,280 somonis from Sad 15-Year Independence LLC; 47,273,203 somonis from Barakati Yovon JSC (Hisor); 33,373,266 somonis from Juniper Nursery LLC (Hisor); and 29,525,914 somonis from Barakati Gusfandi Hisori LLC.
The lawsuits are based on accrued interest, penalties, and breaches of loan agreements.
Court rulings on these cases could have a significant impact on both the future operations of Alimardonov’s enterprises and the financial stability of creditors who issued multi-million loans.
As of now, representatives of the defendants have not made any public statements regarding the Ministry of Finance’s claims.
Increase in land disputes: farmers take legal action
In 2024, the High Economic Court of Tajikistan received 311 lawsuits related to land disputes—100 more than in 2023, according to Deputy Chairman Sulaimon Qosimzoda. He emphasized that most cases involve claims by members of farming cooperatives against their leaders over the allocation of land shares.
The main reason for the increase in lawsuits is the lack of coordination in land distribution. Farmers are increasingly turning to the courts, accusing farm managers of unfair land division, failure to transfer allocated plots, or breaches of agreements. This trend highlights weak land rights protection mechanisms and gaps in legislation governing farming cooperatives.
Government agencies are also involved in major land disputes. The High Economic Court is currently reviewing lawsuits filed by the Ministry of Finance and the Committee for Environmental Protection. These cases could set legal precedents, influencing future land and economic disputes.
Final rulings on the most high-profile cases are expected in the coming months. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, this could lead to a revision of land distribution regulations and stricter oversight of cooperative leaders' actions.
