DUSHANBE, November 23, 2013, Asia-Plus – President Emomali Rahmon replaced prime minister and one of his deputies on Saturday.

By president’s decree published on November 23 Qohir Rasoulzoda, formerly governor of the Sughd Province, was appointed Prime Minister, replacing Oqil Oqilov, who has been Prime Minister since 1999.

It should be noted that the post of prime minister in Tajikistan is purely technical in nature and the president is formal head of the government.

President Rahmon also appointed Ms. Marhabo Jabborova, who had previously served as chairperson of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Science, Education, and Youth Policy, Deputy Prime Minister.  She replaced Ms. Ruqiya Qurbonova in this post.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon, who is in charge of the agrarian sector, has remained in his post.

We will recall that according to president’s decree published on November 19, President Emomali Rahmon named Davlatali Saidov, formerly head the State Committee on Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), to replace Matloubkhon Davlatov, who has been First Deputy Prime Minister since January 2012.

Besides, the president introduced the post of fourth deputy prime minister to the structure of the government and Azim Ibrohim, formerly Head of the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, was appointed to this position on November 23.

President Rahmon has been reshuffling the government since November 19.  He has also ordered several ministries and state agencies to merge or reorganize their responsibilities.