A session of the local council (Majlis) of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) scheduled for December 5 has been postponed to unspecified date, a source in the GABO regional administration told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The main issue of the session was approval of appointment of Yodgor Fayzov to the post of governor of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region.  On October 1, President Emomali Rahmon appointed Yodgor Fayzov acting governor of GBAO.

The governor of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region and heads of other provinces, cities and districts of Tajikistan are appointed and dismissed by the president and presented to their respective councils for approval.   

The heads of the regional, city or district state administrations (khukumat) simultaneously wield executive authority and act as local council chairperson.

“Many other questions related to prospects of socioeconomic development of the region have also been tabled to the session’s agenda.  Preparation of these issues has been delayed and it was delays in preparing these issues that led to the postponement of the session,” the source added.   

Recall, President Emomali Rahmon on September 15 harshly criticized the work of local law enforcement authorities and gave them one-month deadline to address the situation in the region, especially in Khorog, and implied that more robust measures could be adopted if he was dissatisfied with the results.

Concerning troops brought to Khorog for a ceremonial parade, Emomali Rahmon indicated that even the military could be deployed.

He said without naming them that around five or six “criminals” were at the root of the region’s ills.

A range of personnel changes were made in the region.  By president’s decree chairperson of the GBAO regional court, chief of GBAO police, chief of Khorog traffic police department as well as heads of Khorog and Shugnan and Roshtqala districts were fired.

The governor of GBAO, Shodikhon Jamshed, managed to hold onto his post until October 1, when he was replaced by Yodgor Fayzov.  By president’s decree Yodgor Fayzov was appointed as acting governor of GBAO.    

Shodikhon Jamshed was relieved of the post of GBAO governor in connection with transfer to other job.  He was recently appointed Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection.