Former chairman of court in Shansiddin-Shohin district, Zohir Muminzoda, has been barred from working in judicial system.  President Emomali Rahmon stated this yesterday at a meeting on staff changes, according to the Tajik president’s official website.        

Emomali Rahmon reportedly expressed concern about Muminzoda’s inappropriate and illegal behavior.

Muminzoda was not only relieved of his post but he is also barred from working in the judicial system due to his inappropriate behavior towards a border guard, the Tajik president’s official website said.    

Recall, the Supreme Court has launched an internal investigation into the actions of the chairman of a court in Khatlon’s Shamsiddin-Shohin, Zohir Muminzoda, who is suspected of beating a border guard at the Darai Ob border checkpoint on July 8. 

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on July 16 that the border guard asked Muminzoda’s companion to present an identity document, after which the court chairman struck the serviceman several blows with his fist. 

Judges have the right to immunity, and therefore, the Supreme Court has launched the internal investigation. 

Muminzoda was found guilty and his data was transferred to the president for dismissal from office. 

The beating of the soldier was recorded on CCTV cameras.  The video shows how Zohir Muminzoda gets out of the car and punches the border guard several times with his fist.  

The Darai Ob border checkpoint is located on the border with Afghanistan and is considered a kind of gateway to the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). Anyone traveling there must show identification.

Zohir Muminzoda was appointed the head of the court in Shamsiddin-Shohin district of Khatlon province in 2017.   Prior to this, Muminzoda had served as judge at the Khatlon regional court.