The duties of the chairman of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) have been temporarily assigned to First Deputy Chairman Sharifkhon Safarzoda, an official source in the regional administration told Asia-Plus.
According to the source, Safarzoda will serve as acting head of the region until a new chairman is appointed. His status as acting regional leader was also reflected in a decision to convene the sixth session of the GBAO legislature, published on June 19 in the regional newspaper Badakhshon.
Safarzoda has served as First Deputy Chairman of GBAO since April 2023. Prior to that, he had headed Varzob district, one of Tajikistan’s districts directly subordinate to the center, since July 2022.
Earlier in his career, Safarzoda had served as First Deputy Head of Dushanbe’s Ismoili Somoni district.
According to centralasia.org, Sharifkhon Safarzoda, was born in Mastchoh district of Sughd province on November 15, 1980.
Search for GBAO governor and family members continues
The appointment comes as search efforts continue for GBAO Governor Alisher Mirzonabot and four other people who were traveling with him when their vehicle reportedly plunged into the Panj River in GBAO’s Darvoz district on June 17.
According to the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, five people were in the vehicle:
- Alisher Mirzonabot, 46, Governor of GBAO;
- Amina Amonulloyeva, 46, his wife;
- Arifa Mirzonabotzoda, 2, his daughter;
- Sadonsho Janobalisho (reported by some sources as Janobilshoyev), 37, an aide to the GBAO governor;
- Sino Muborakshoyev, 42, the driver.
Search and rescue operations have been ongoing for nearly a week, but no trace of the missing individuals has yet been found.
