Tajik air chief fired after complaining about State bias
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 21 July 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Tajik air chief fired after complaining about State bias, 21 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54003e088.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 21, 2014
By RFE/RL's Tajik Service
The chief of the Tajik Air State Aviation Company has been fired just hours after he complained to journalists about government bias.
Firuz Hamroev, the general director of Tajik Air, said at a press conference in Dushanbe that his company's main competitor, Somon Air, enjoyed better business opportunities because it has been allocated more lucrative international flights by the government.
Somon Air is controlled by the private Oryon Bank, which is owned by Hasan Asadullozoda, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's brother-in-law.
Hours after Hamroev's press conference, Deputy Prime Minister Azim Ibrohim announced that Hamroev was being replaced by Rustam Halikov, who previously ran Dushanbe's international airport.
Many of Rahmon's direct and distant relatives either own or have lucrative positions in Tajikistan's leading enterprises and businesses.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
