Former mayor of Konibodom, Abdusalom Tukhtasunzoda, who was dismissed from the position of mayor of Konibodom in January due to transitioning to another job, has been arrested on suspicion of bribery and fraud. Tukhtasunzoda had served as mayor of Konibodom for nearly three years.
Citing several reliable sources in investigative bodies, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reported on April 3 that Tukhtasunzoda's arrest occurred at the end of February, and the investigation into his case is ongoing. Authorities have not provided any information on this matter.
According to Radio Ozodi's sources, Abdusalom Tukhtasunzoda was arrested in Uzbekistan and then brought to Tajikistan. One informed source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “He is currently being held in a temporary detention facility in the city of Khujand.”
The source added that the former mayor of Konibodom is suspected of bribery and fraud. The opinion of his defense attorney or his relatives regarding the charges is not known, according to Radio Ozodi.
Additionally, according to Radio Ozodi’s sources, Suhrob Umarzoda – the former deputy head of the Konibodom Police Department, and Usmon Haydar – the former head of Konibodom’s State Property Department, have also been arrested. The former head of the property department is accused of fraud. The exact charges against the Police Department staff member are currently unclear.
Radio Ozodi has also received reports of the arrest of several other government officials in Konibodom, but confirmation or denial of these reports is not yet possible.
Sources from Radio Ozodi said that the arrests of these individuals followed the arrival of a special commission in Konibodom to investigate a series of murders at the end of last year.
“Members of the commission found several houses built on irrigated land and reported this to Dushanbe. From there, it was ordered that the actions of Konibodom authorities be thoroughly investigated, as they had not seriously investigated the murder cases,” said one of the sources.
After a series of murders in 2024, the city of Konibodom was in the media spotlight. In December alone, ten people, including four minors from three families, were killed. The total number of those killed over the years has been more than twenty.
On December 21 of last year, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced that four individuals were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the series of murders in Konibodom. After that, no official information was released about the incidents or the suspects. Letters from Radio Ozodi to these bodies have also gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, the wife of the former mayor of Konibodom confirmed the arrest of her husband. She confirmed his arrest to Asia-Plus but emphasized her husband's innocence.
On April 14, Tukhtasunzoda's wife confirmed to the Asia-Plus reporter that he had been arrested, and since the day he was detained, she and their children have been left without support.
The woman refrained from providing detailed comments, saying only: “My husband could not have committed such actions. This was organized and spread through the media by his enemies.”
However, she did not specify what actions she was referring to and did not clarify what exactly Abdusalom Tukhtasunzoda was being accused of.
Tukhtasunzoda's wife declined to comment on the issue of her husband's arrest on suspicion of corruption and fraud."
