Tajikistan’s Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption has identified 1,245 corruption-related and economic crimes in the first half of 2025, involving 710 individuals, agency head Sulaimon Sultonozoda told reporters.
According to Sultonozoda, the highest number of offenses occurred in local government bodies, where 183 crimes were recorded — 32 more than in the same period of 2024. The healthcare sector ranked second, with 103 cases, up from 74 last year.
Other sectors with notable figures include:
- Land management and geodesy authorities – 58 cases;
- Education and science – 49 (down from 100 last year);
- Internal affairs bodies – 48 (up from 39);
- State-owned power companies – 39 (down from 80);
- State and commercial banks – 30;
- Agriculture ministry – 24 (down from 50);
- Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment – 12;
- Ministry of Defense – 12 (down from 70);
- Judiciary – 8;
- Environmental protection committee – 7;
- Other state bodies, enterprises, private businesses, and individuals – 665 cases.
Of the total, 442 were classified as corruption offenses, 603 as economic crimes of a corruption-related nature, and 200 under other articles of the Criminal Code. Authorities have sent 571 criminal cases against 528 individuals to court following investigation.
Financial losses and high-profile cases
The agency’s audits revealed financial losses totaling 624.1 million somonis (US$57 million) — up by 373 million somonis from the same period in 2024. The state recovered 637 million somonis, largely through tax debt collection and other enforcement measures.
Losses included 401 million somonis from shortages and embezzlement, 104 million somonis from inflated construction costs, 53 million somonis from tax underreporting, and 46 million somonis from direct theft of financial resources.
A major scandal emerged at Dushanbe International Airport, where over 1.2 billion somonis in damages were uncovered. The airport’s former head and several ex-employees are now under arrest.
Corruption remains a chronic challenge
Tajikistan’s anti-corruption agency annually lists the most corruption-prone institutions, with education, science, healthcare, and local government consistently appearing. Experts consider corruption one of the country’s most pressing issues, with dozens of officials prosecuted each year for bribery and embezzlement.
In Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Tajikistan ranked 164th out of 180 countries, falling 19 places from the previous year.
