Emomali Rahmon presented a state award to his son-in-law
On the day before the Independence Day of Tajikistan, the President Emomali Rahmon awarded several ministers, officials and cultural and art workers with state awards, prizes and titles. Among them was the President’s son-in-law – businessman Shamsullo Sokhibov.
The notorious son-in-law of the President of Tajikistan, Shamsullo Sokhibov, systematically appears on the front pages of Tajik newspapers. The company “Faroz” that belongs to him strengthens its influence in the country every year, capturing new areas of activity, while getting rid of its competitors with the help of the state system.
The latest scandal was associated with the medicinal plant ferula. The Ministry of Health of Tajikistan wanted to do the processing of its pitch. However, the State Committee for Environmental Protection rejected this application, recommending that the Ministry of Health conclude an agreement with the company “Faroz”, which has the license to collect ferula.
In addition, the company “Faroz” has established a monopoly on obtaining a driver’s license by creating a network of driving schools throughout the country; it has a dominant position in the country for the supply and sale of petroleum products. The following fields of activity are listed on the official website of the company “Faroz”: bank business, mining operations, healthcare, education, trade, printing industry, transport communications, tourism, manufacturing and construction. It is noteworthy that the company does not provide any information on these types of activities. Materials are regularly appearing in the media about dissatisfaction of Tajik citizens with the “Faroz” activity, which, having established a monopoly, regularly raises prices for its services.
The co-owner of the company “Faroz” was the late Umarali Kuvvatov, whom the son-in-law of the President completely ousted from business. As a result, Kuvvatov left Tajikistan, created the opposition movement “Group 24” and began to severely criticize the President by publishing revealing materials. In 2015, Umarali Kuvvatov was killed in Istanbul, and his organization in Tajikistan was declared illegal. Some members of the “Group 24” are in prisons, while others are in Europe and regularly hold various protests against the authorities in Tajikistan.
“Also by Decrees of Emomali Rahmon, Heads of law enforcement agencies, including the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of the Interior, the State Committee for National Security, the Border Troops, the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, the Agency for State Financial Control and Anti-Corruption, the Ministry of Defense and the Agency for Control for drugs, special military ranks were awarded – State Counselor of Justice of the 1st and 3rd degrees, Major General of Justice, Major General of Drug Control Service, Police General, Major General of police, and Lieutenant General of police”, – reported by state media of Tajikistan.
