Olimjon Mirmuhamedov, head of the Buston mayor’s office, has been detained on suspicion of bribery and abuse of office, and a criminal case has been opened against him.

Safar Salimzoda, head of regional department of Tajikistan’s Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption in Sughd province, announced the detention at a news conference in Khujand on August 7.

According to Salimzoda, Mirmuhamedov is suspected of accepting bribes on two occasions totaling $90,000, or approximately 830,000 somoni, as well as an apartment.

In the first case, investigators allege that the official received $50,000 and a 120-square-meter apartment valued at about 600,000 somoni from a resident of Buston. In return, he allegedly agreed to help change the designated use of a 0.30-hectare land plot and secure permission for construction.

In the second case, Mirmuhamedov is suspected of receiving another $40,000 from a different resident in exchange for assistance in changing the designated use of a land plot for the construction of a multi-story building.

The alleged offenses took place between November 2025 and April 2026.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Mirmuhamedov under two articles of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code: Article 314 (1) — abuse of official authority; and Article 319 (4) – bribery.  

According to the information presented at the news conference, the charges carry penalties ranging from fines to prison terms of up to 12 years.

The Buston city administration has not yet publicly commented on the allegations against Mirmuhamedov.

Corruption-related crimes

Corruption remains a serious problem in Tajikistan. According to the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption, 118 corruption-related crimes involving 183 officials were uncovered in local government bodies across cities and districts in the first half of 2026.

The agency said that from January through June, corruption offenses were most frequently recorded in local government bodies and law enforcement agencies, as well as in the education and healthcare sectors.