“Municipal finance department does not repay my debts so that I could repay debt for wheat flour,” -- these were last words of Zarif Abdulloyev, resident of the Kuhnashahr village, who set himself on fire near the finance department in Kulob.

He has died of his injuries.  He was burned on 95% of his body and he died of his injuries in two days after the incident today without regaining consciousness. 

A source within local law enforcement authorities says the Kulob finance department had promised to repay all Abdulloyev’s expenses but only after he provides the kindergartens with bread

Abdulloyev reportedly borrowed money and fulfilled all his obligations.  He then went to the financial department many times but they every time refused to pay money to him, the source said.  

Recall, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, citing its sources, reported the man, identified as Zarif Abdulloyev, 63, set himself on fire near the building of the Finance Department in Kulob Saturday (June 6) morning. 

According to Radio Ozodi, Abdulloyev had collaborated with the Kulob finance department and provided local preschool institutions with bread and the finance department had promised him to pay accumulated debts.

The Kulob finance department did not deny the fact of business relations with Zarif Abdulloyev, but noted that the bakery that provided local kindergartens with bread was registered in the name of his brother, Faizullo Abdulloyev.  Besides, the bakery had reportedly collaborated directly with the preschool institutions.  

“If the kindergartens did not pay debts, they could apply to the court,” Odina, Rahmon, the head of the Kulob finance department, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

“According to the lists Zarif Abdulloyev submitted the finance department, he provided with bread four kindergartens in Kulob, namely kindergartens ## 1, 2, 7 and 11.  Of them kindergartens ## 1, 2 and 11 owe a total of 18,720 somoni to the bakery,” Odina Rahmon said.