DUSHANBE, July 22, 2014, Asia-Plus – Director general of Tajik national carrier, Tajik Air, Firouz Hamroyev, was fired yesterday just hours after he gave a news conference on the results of work carried out by Tajik Air in the first half-year of 2014.

Hamroyev noted on July 21 that privately owned Somon Air enjoyed better business opportunities because it has been allocated more lucrative international flights by the government.

According to him, Tajik Air has operated 793 flights over the first six months of this year, which is 8 percent fewer than in the same period last.  Tajik national air carrier’s incomes have reportedly dropped 80 million somoni over the s same six-month period.

“The main reason for decrease in the number of flights operated by our company is the fact that the Ministry of Transport took three flights from Khujand to Moscow as well as the Dushanbe-Istanbul flight from us and gave them to Somon Air,” said Hamroyev.  “We are currently seeking ways to fill in this gap.”

Hours after Hamroyev''s press conference, Deputy Prime Minister Azim Ibrohim announced that Firouz Hamroyev was being replaced by Rustam Kholiqov, who previously ran Dushanbe International Airport.

According to some sources, Somon Air is controlled by relatives of the highest leadership of Tajikistan.