In the first half of 2025, Tajikistan’s Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption uncovered 1,245 corruption-related and economic crimes committed by 710 individuals, the agency’s head, Sulaimon Sultonzoda, told journalists, Asiaplus.tj reported.
According to Sultonzoda, the largest number of cases was recorded in local government bodies — 183 incidents, 32 more than in the same period of 2024. The healthcare sector ranked second with 103 crimes, an increase of 29 cases year-on-year.
Other state bodies recorded the following figures:
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Land management and geodesy authorities — 58 cases;
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Education and science — 49 (100 in 2024);
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Internal affairs bodies — 48 (39 in 2024);
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Energy companies, including Barki Tojik — 39 (80 in 2024);
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Banks — 30;
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Ministry of Agriculture — 24 (50 in 2024);
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Ministry of Labor — 12 (10 in 2024);
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Ministry of Defense — 12 (70 in 2024);
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Judiciary — 8 (15 in 2024);
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Committee for Environmental Protection — 7;
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Other agencies, enterprises, private entities, and individuals — 665 cases.
Of the total, 442 cases were classified as corruption crimes, 603 as economic crimes of a corruption nature, and 200 under other articles of the Criminal Code. Following investigations, 571 criminal cases against 528 people were submitted to court.
During 246 audits in the first half of the year, financial losses amounting to 624.1 million somoni ($66.2 million) were identified — 373 million somoni more than in the same period of 2024. The state recovered 637 million somoni ($67.6 million) in revenues, up 380.8 million somoni from last year.
Losses included:
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Unauthorized expenses — 18.8 million somoni;
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Shortages and embezzlement — 401 million somoni;
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Inflated construction and repair costs — 104 million somoni;
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Sale or leasing of state property — 1.3 million somoni;
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Misappropriation of funds — 46 million somoni;
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Underpayment of taxes — 53 million somoni.
Over the same period, 63 criminal cases were initiated against 76 people, 15 financial officials were dismissed, and 465 individuals faced disciplinary action.
Sultonzoda also reported major financial damage exceeding 1.2 billion somoni ($127.3 million) uncovered at Dushanbe International Airport. The airport’s former director and several ex-employees are currently under arrest.
Experts note that corruption remains one of Tajikistan’s most pressing problems. The agency annually publishes a list of the most corruption-prone institutions, which regularly includes education, science, healthcare, and local government bodies.
In Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Tajikistan ranked 164th out of 180 countries, falling 19 places compared to the previous year.
1 US dollar = 9,36 Tajik Somoni.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 12, 2025