Total "Kulyabisation": a straight road for disintegration of Tajikistan

With the end of the elections of «new old» president of Tajikistan, local and international experts have predicted that Emomali Rakhmon would be cleaning out the political field in a country by sacking a number of high public officials, which possess professional experience of state administration or proper education and could pose in the future a potential threat for autocracy of Tajikbashi. In the article «President of Kulyabistan» we have already lighted up information from the sources near to Rakhmon about a policy he was “devoted” to conduct. His policy pursues a final extermination of administrative intelligentsia, competent in the governing and economic processes.

The intermediate results of this policy have demonstrated that in order to preserve a formal parity with the north of the country, president Rakhmon has not dismissed the prime minister of country A.Akilov from his position. Sources close to president have unanimously stated that Akilov is very comfortable in this quality for Rakhmon, because he does not «lay claim to anything», and satisfied with his formal position, which is strictly limited to fulfill only the representative functions. In a reality, his authority is less the one of a secretary of the president, capable to solve a wide range of questions by means of one telephone talk. Moreover, Akilov in his 63 is already a 3 years record pensioner. Someone jokes that our prime minister has less rights, than a secretary, who brings tea and coffee to Rakhmon. A significant half of the government is represented by the fellow countrymen of the president. They are either directly originated from Dangara administrative area or from Kulyab. Thus, the first deputy prime minister A.Gulomov, minister for foreign affairs Kh. Zaripov, minister for education A.Rakhmonov, minister for finance S.Najmuddinov and others are president Rakhmon’s countrymen.

In Tajikistan under the accustomed scenario of "the final decision on personnel” regarding the former high-ranking public officials, many of the demoted to the less appreciable positions have already been imprisoned on the far-fetched motives or are under the threat to be arrested. The mechanism of such imprisonment has been worked through in details. It could be seen how Rakhmon has burned in political «oven» his most influential companions and friends of the past.

Gafur Mirzoyev is the former head of presidential guards. At first he was appointed director of the Drug Control Agency, so that he has been deprived possibility to control this militarized power. Next left without support in his "non political" position he was sentenced for 23 years in prison, the same has been done with regards of 20 the most courageous officers of presidential guards.

Makhmudruzi Iskandarov - the former leader the United Tajik Opposition (the U.T.O.) He at first was discharged from «Barkitochik» («Tarumenergo»), and then has been forced to leave Tajikistan. Afterwards he has been kidnapped by the Tajik secret police from suburban Podmoscowie area of Moscow, because Russia officially renounced to hand on him, and that is why he had been returned to Tajikistan via secret «paths». Eventually, in accordance with personally written by Rakhmon a «wolfish ticket», his terminus became the prison for political criminals. This «ticket» is valid for 23 years in prison without a right on amnesty.

Mirzo Ziyoyev - former Minister of defense from the U.T.O. At first he was given to do some work at the Ministry of emergency situations, as a reward for his service in the suppression of mutiny of Makhmud Khudaiberdiyev. Thus, having lulled his attention the regime has discharged this political figure and some time did not even touch him. As a result, using a «standard set» of prosecutions it put Ziyoyev into 21 years imprisonment.

Late Saeed Abdullo Nuri - the leader of the U.T.O. There is nothing to comment on this outstanding and tongue-tied charismatic enemy of Tajikbashi. In short Nuri have been poisoned, as it is believed to be done " with the guaranteed result". The leader of opposition was long and painfully hurt and has died exactly three months prior to presidential elections. Ditto about 120 officials of a various level (from the heads of provinces and areas to directors of the enterprises and some members of the political organizations) have been eliminated.

The followings are the most known cases of so called “clanisation” in Tajikistan:
The key figures of the former Cabinet, who have saved their positions are the Minister of Defense Sh. Khairullayev and the head of the State Committee on National Security (a secret police) Kh. Abdurakhimov. The head of the former State Committee on Protection of Frontiers S. Zukhurov, the head of former Ministry of Industry Z. Saeedov and the head of former Ministry of Communications S.Zuvadov are among those, who have been discharged.

Despite of the underlined loyalty to the president the governor of Sughd K. Kasimov province became misfortunate and lost his position. Unfortunately, his main “demerits” are his professionalism, a high level of erudition and greater skills of the state administration. On Rakhmon’s logic, he should provide himself with a capability "to lead the game" at any moment. A consoling prize for Kasimov became an approbation to lead the provincial branch of one of the pro-governmental parties, that again very soon can be reconsidered with his dispatch to the more dampness and not so remote places.

In addition, in Sughd province the head of Khujand city – O.Jalolov, the head of Istaravshan town – D.Zokirov, the head of Shakhristan administrative area – I.Akhmadov, the head Ainey administrative area of – M.Boboyev, the head of Asht administrative area - A.Kurbanov, the head of Jabborrasulov administrative area - U.Jabborov, the head of Spitamen administrative area - A.Ochliov, the head of Taboshar town – I.Zokirov, the head of Penjikent town – Sh.Sasadov, the head of Kairakum town – U.Usupov and others were unconditionally sacked from the provincial administrations. The post of the chief of the department of internal affairs of Sughd of province was given to the former first deputy of the minister of internal affairs lieutenant-general A. Kakhharov, and a police colonel A.Navjuvonov has got a post of the chief of department of internal affairs of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province (the G.B.A.P.). In the G.B.A.P. heads of one city and three administrative areas, not to mention about subordinate heads of a local level, were replaced. D. Nazarov, who earlier headed the Office of Public Prosecutor, certainly, of Dargara administrative area in Khatlon is appointed as the new Transport Public Prosecutor of Tajikistan. On position of the Public Prosecutor of the capital has been appointed K.Mukhabbatov.

Changes in personnel in bodies of Office of Public Prosecutor also have reached some of other areas of the country. The set of charges to address of the eliminated heads is standard. Depending on the biography of the official, one of the following gets out: embezzlement of public property, a negligence, participation in the illegal armed formation, terrorism or illegal storage of the weapon. However, the main reason is the potential of possible political opposition to Rakhmon, incorporated in personal and professional qualities of these officials. Instead of honourable resignation or «retiring», Rakhmon offers to his former brothers-in-arms and colleagues the way of leaving big policy quite adequate to his own limited mental outlook: lifelong prison "the state maintenance".

In this regard, today it is possible, with a certain degree of confidence, to speak about the recently “relieved from the posts" and appointed, for the time being, to the new positions in various political and state institutes of power the members of a former Cabinet in the near future will be replaced to lifelong "positions", that is places of imprisonment. It will occur, in spite of the fact that each of them the competent expert and all of them served faithfully for motherland. "Moors have made the business" and must go away. To leave there, whence they would not be audible, and they even theoretically cannot threaten Rakhmon’s power. We have to expect final acts of this performance, and today's retired servicemen should become "people in iron masks" up to the end of the days.

Mukum Temurov, expert from the World Bank