Samandar Qalandar, the former judge of the Jaloliddin-Balkhi district in Khatlon province, who was dismissed from his post in December 2025, is accused of accepting a bribe of 75,000 somoni.
The press center of the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption under the President says that while serving in his official capacity, Judge Qalandar demanded money in exchange for mitigating the sentence of defendant N.D.S.
"In his office in October 2025, Samandar Qalandar first received 50,000 somoni from the defendant, and later another 25,000 somoni for imposing a relatively lenient sentence. He was detained by anticorruption agency officers at the scene of the crime," the anticorruption agency's statement said.
As a result, criminal proceedings were instituted against Qalandar under Article 319 (3) of Tajikistan’s Penal Cede — receiving a bribe.
The case has already moved to a court for consideration. Under this charge, the former judge faces imprisonment for a period of 5 to 10 years, with a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in specific activities for 3 to 5 years after serving his sentence.
The opinions of Qalandar himself and his family regarding the accusations have not been made public.
On December 17, 2025, President Emomali Rahmon signed a decree dismissing Samandar Qalandar from his position, citing "conduct unbecoming of a judge that tarnishes the honor and dignity of the judiciary." Qalandar had held the position since March 2025.
In addition to Qalandar, the same decree also removed Firdavs Huseinzoda, a judge from the Sughd regional court, and Nozim Davlatzoda, a judge from the Baljuvon district court in Khatlon province, for similar reasons.
