Tajik law enforcement authorities have denied report that former Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev was summoned to the anticorruption agency for questioning as “absolutely unfounded.”

“To-date, none of the country’s law enforcement agencies has launched criminal proceedings over untargeted use of the Dushanbe budgetary funds” a source at the Tajik law enforcement authorities told Asia-Plus in an interview.

Some media outlets have reported that Ubaidulloyev was allegedly summoned to the anticorruption agency for questioning over the untargeted used of the Dushanbe budgetary funds allocated for the construction of Dushanbe-Plaza, Istiqlol-90 Medical Center and the implementation of the Affordable Housing project    

Speaking at a meeting with senior representatives of the Dushanbe administration on February 15, President Rahmon reportedly ordered the anticorruption agency to complete investigation into the use of budgetary funds of the country and Dushanbe allocated for construction of residential buildings until July 1.

According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, the president stressed that detailed report should be submitted for consideration to the government.

Rahmon reportedly also ordered the Dushanbe administration to give the process of implementation of construction works and targeted use of budgetary funds under its strict control.  

Some media outlets have reported that investigation into operations of former Dushanbe Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev’s office began two weeks after he was replaced by Rustam Emomali.  

The deputy chief of the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption, Iliyos Idriszoda, reportedly said on January 27 that a preliminary investigation had been launched into possible embezzlement of state funds by staff members during Ubaidulloyev's long tenure as mayor of the capital.

Idriszoda reportedly said that the investigation was launched after the agency received complaints from several Dushanbe residents who suspected that state funds allocated for the construction of apartment blocks were misused.

He said that the new mayor, Rustam Emomali, had also asked the agency to look into the situation.

EurasiaNet.org, citing the deputy chief of the anticorruption agency Abdukarim Zarifzoda, reported that the mayor of Dushanbe had filed a request with the anticorruption agency for the review of the mayor’s office activities.  According to him, a request was addressed to the mayor’s office itself on two occasions by citizens concerning the implementation of the Affordable Housing project.

President Emomali Rahmon appointed his 29-year-old son Rustam Emomali as mayor of Dushanbe on January 12, 2017.  Rustam Emomali replaced Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, who was mayor for 19 years.

Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, 64, has given up his seat in Dushanbe’s legislature (Majlis).  However, he still remains chairman of the parliament's upper chamber (Majlisi Milli) and is considered Tajikistan's No. 2 leader after the president.

Meanwhile, Article 51 of Tajikistan’s Constitution says a member of the Majlisi Milli and a deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) shall have the right freely to express his opinion and vote according to his conviction, not obeying an order of electors.

A member of the Majlisi Milli and a deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon shall possess the right of violability, he shall not be subject to detention, forcible bringing [to court], to search, except for instances of his detention at the site of the commission of the crime.  A member of the Majlisi Milli and a deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon may not be also subject to body search, except for events provided by a law for ensuring the security of others.  The decision regarding the repeal of inviolability of a member of the Majlisi Milli and a deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon shall be adopted by the respective majlis, upon the recommendation of the Procurator General.