DUSHANBE, February 6, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan today marks the 82nd anniversary of the establishment of Tajikistan’s police.

The first police detachment led by Abdullo Yormuhammadov came to Dushanbe from Bukhara on February 6, 1925.   

Interior Minister Mahmadnazar Solehov said in an exclusive interview with Asia-Plus that the crime rate in Tajikistan is one of the lowest among the CIS states.  “However, the fact that Tajikistan’s territory is used by transnational drug-trafficking groups for smuggling drugs into other countries evokes serious concern,” said the minister, “They intend to expand drug-using market at the expense of our citizens.  A number of drug users in Tajikistan is increasing from year to year; the most serious situation is in the border areas, where many residents are involved in drug trafficking.”  

Asked about corruption and other crimes reported among officers from the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Solehov noted that a number of registered crimes committed by police officers reduced from 107 in 2005 to 79 in 2006. 

According to him, the ministry is taking efforts to purge its ranks from non-professionals and corrupt officers.  He added that a commission had been set up to assess the professionalism of police officers.  The commission will vet all officers working with the MoI and incompetent officers will be dismissed, according to him.         

 The minister also noted that there are many shortcomings in the work of the country’s traffic police directorate and it has been decided to replace a number of senior officials of the traffic police directorate.   

According to Solehov, 1,573 officers of the MoI have been killed and more than 3,000 have been injured in Tajikistan since 1991.