The Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption under the President of Tajikistan has confirmed that the preventive measure against Ismatullo Abdullozoda, the former head of Dushanbe International Airport (DIA), and several of his subordinates has been altered. The criminal investigation into the case is still ongoing.
Three individuals who were previously arrested have been released from pretrial detention, though the fate of Abdullozoda remains unclear.
Earlier, on August 8, 2025, during a press conference, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Sulaimon Sultonzoda, stated that the following individuals were involved in the case:
· Ismatullo Abdullozoda, Director of the airport;
· Asliddin Malikzoda, Deputy Director;
· Muhiddin Davlatov, Head of the Airport Supply and Service Department;
· Taghoymurod Jurazoda, Airport Cashier;
A total of 22 individuals have been charged in relation to the case.
At that time, it was reported that Ismatullo Abdullozoda alone was suspected of embezzling 961 million somonis (nearly $100 million) and was under arrest.
In a letter from the anticorruption agency, responding to an inquiry from Asia-Plus, it was revealed that, following the full reimbursement of material damage by Malikzoda, Davlatov, and Jurazoda, and based on the provisions of part 6, Article 49 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan and Articles 104 and 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code, their preventive measure was changed from detention to a travel ban.
As a result, Asliddin Malikzoda, Muhiddin Davlatov, and Taghoymurod Jurazoda were released from detention, as they fully compensated for the material damages and provided a guarantee not to leave the country.
Regarding Ismatullo Abdullozoda, the letter stated: "A portion of the identified material damage was compensated by Ismatullo Abdullozoda. In accordance with his commitment to compensate for the remaining amount through the sale of confiscated property, his preventive measure was changed in accordance with Article 104 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Tajikistan."
Although the anticorruption agency claims that Abdullozoda’s preventive measure was also changed, it did not clarify whether he was released from detention.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, citing its own sources, previously reported that Ismatullo Abdullozoda, Asliddin Malikzoda, Muhiddin Davlatov, and Taghoymurod Jurazoda were released on September 17, with the condition that they not leave their place of residence, and that they contributed 300 million somonis (approximately $32 million) as a guarantee.
The anticorruption agency's letter did not specify the amount of damage compensated by Abdullozoda and his subordinates, but emphasized that the preliminary investigation into the criminal case is ongoing.
