Some corrections made to Suhrob Qosimov’s bio data

DUSHANBE, March 13, Asia-Plus -- The Interior Ministry’s Special Force Brigade commander, Major-General Suhrob Qosimov, has sent in his resignation and now plans to concentrate on development of Tajik football. 

General Qosimov said in an exclusive interview with Asia-Plus that he sent in his resignation on February 22.   

“I had served as commander of the Special Force Brigade of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) for fifteen years and now I want to be useful for my country at more higher, international level,” Qosimov said, noting that he could fulfill these tasks as head of Tajikistan’s Football Federation, which he has headed since October 2002.  

“The president has understood me and accepted my application for resignation,” said Qosimov, “Now I plan to be seriously engaged in development of Tajik football in order to raise prestige of Tajik people and sports on international arena.” 

According to him, he has brought up many skilled officers, who in contradistinction to him have proper academic military education, and “it is now their work to command the brigade.”

The source at a MoI has confirmed information about resignation of Suhrob Qosimov.  He noted that Colonel Khurshed Mahmadshoyev, formerly deputy commander of the MoI Special Force Brigade, had been appointed as acting commander of the brigade.  

The full text of Qosimov’s interview with the weekly Asia-Plus will be published in the weekly’s next edition. 

Suhrob Qosimov, 45, is one of the former most known commanders of pro-government Popular Front (1992-1997).  He was born in the Danghara district of the Khatlon province on September 2, 1961.  In 1985, Qosimov graduated from Moscow State Teachers’ Training Institute, Faculty for Study of Mental Defects and Physical Handicap.  Before 1992, he had worked as teacher with boarding school # 3 in Dushanbe. 

In 1992, Qosimov organized a self-defense detachment numbering 55 people and joined the pro-government Popular Front.  In late 1992, he was appointed as commander of the “OMON” Special Operations of the Dushanbe police directorate that was reorganized into the MoI Operational Regiment in 1993 and in December 1994, the regiment was transformed into the MoI Special Force Brigade 1.  Qosimov has also been the president of Tajikistan’s Football Federation since 2002.