On Monday March 4, members of local council (Majlis) of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) unanimously voted for approval of appointment of Yodgor Fayzov as governor of the region.

Recall, by president’s decree Yodgor Fayzov was appointed acting governor of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region five months ago and the GBAO legislature had to approve the appointment of Yodgor Fayzov as governor of the region but the session of the GBAO legislature has been postponed several times.      

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 local council may issue a vote of no confidence in the chairperson and request his/her dismissal with a vote of two thirds of all council members by secret ballot.  The president of Tajikistan must then decide upon the issue within the period of one month.

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

Recall, President Emomali Rahmon on September 15 harshly criticized the work of the GBAO 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

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 City 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 appointed Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection.