On Monday November 4, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon left for Switzerland on an official visit, according to the Tajik president’s official website.  Switzerland is the first leg of Rahmon’s tour of Europe.  

Foreign Minister, Presidential Advisor on Foreign Policy, Economic Development and Trade Minister, Finance Minister, Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management, Head of the Tourism Development Agency, Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan, President of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Rector of Tajik National University, and some other officials are accompanying Emomali Rahmon on his European tour.  

An official source within the Tajik government had earlier told Asia-Plus that Emomali Rahmon will make trips to Switzerland, Czech Republic and France.  He further added that it could not be ruled out that Emomali Rahmon would also visit some other European countries during his European tour that would last from November 4-12. 

Some local experts say that during his upcoming trip, Tajik leader will invite European investments in Tajikistan’s economy and will try to get their help with security issues.  

According to the majority of them, the upcoming visit to Europe will not be easy for Emomali Rahmon.  

“In Europe, they will ask the Tajik president uneasy questions related to freedom of speech in the country, blockage of Internet in Tajikistan and parliamentary and presidential elections that will take in the country next year,” the experts say.