President Emomali Rahmon, who is also Head of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, has introduced a number of staff changes to the country’s Ministry of Defense.

The Tajik president’s official website reports that by president’s decree issued on February 28 Khusrav Bobozoda was relieved of his post of Commander of the Ground Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan and Rahmonali Safarzoda was appointed to this post.  

By government’s regulations issued on February 28:

Jamshed Safarzoda was appointed Deputy Defense Minister in charge of military training;

Odil Nosirzoda was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense in charge of weapons and military equipment;

Muzaffar Rahimzoda was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense in charge of political and educational work; 

Bobojon Saidzoda was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense in charge of logistics; 

Abdusattor Shohiyon was appointed to head the Defense Ministry Military Institute.  

Besides, by president’s decrees issued on the same day:

Shamsiddin Sobirzoda was appointed Commander of Air and Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan;

Dilshod Taghoizoda was appointed Deputy Commander of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS).    

Also, experienced and qualified personnel were appointed to the positions of the First Deputy and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan, heads of a number of departments and services of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces, commanders of some military units, chiefs of the regional military registration and enlistment offices of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Province, Sughd and Khatlon provinces and representatives of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense to international organizations and Tajikistan’s diplomatic missions in several foreign countries.   

The head of state received the new appointed high-ranking military officials on the same day.  During the meeting, Rahmon reportedly mentioned the alarming situation in the region and the world, escalating threats of terrorism and extremism and other unpredictable processes in today's world, urged the personnel appointed to responsible positions as well as protectors of peace and security of Tajikistan for faithful and honest service to the Motherland and the people of Tajikistan.

Pointing to the unprecedented progress of modern military and intelligence techniques and technologies, the president once again emphasized that military personnel and especially the leadership and commanding personnel of the Armed Forces should also pay close attention to the in-depth study of two foreign languages along with their native language as well as mastering modern military and information technologies and equipment.