By president’s decree issued on August 2 Davlatshoh Gulmhmadzoda has been appointed Tajikistan’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, replacing Imomuddin Sattorov.

Prior to this assignment, he had served as Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan since February 14, 2020.  Previously, Davlatshoh Gulmahmadzoda had headed the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan since 2019.

He also served as Governor of Khatlon Province from 2013 to 2019.

From March 25, 2010 to December 16, 2019, he was member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) of the 4th convocation.

Between 2008 and 2010, he was First Deputy Governor of Sughd Province.

Prior to this, Davlatshoh Gulmahmadzoda had headed the State Committee for Land Management and Geodesy since 2001.    

Davlatshoh Gulmahmadzoda was born on January 10, 1961 in Danghara, a hometown of President Emomali Rahmon.  

Gulmahmadzoda is married with six children. 

In 1987, Gulmahmadzoda graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization.  In 2007, he reportedly graduated from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

Director of the Media Alliance of Tajikistan Abdumalik Qodirov considers that in Tajikistan, appointment to any position rarely occurs on the basis of the professional qualities of the appointed.

“We have people appointed to positions not for any merit, but mainly due to proximity, kinship or loyalty to the upper elite,” Qodirov said.  

In his opinion, Gulmahmadzoda has been appointed Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Russia precisely because of his loyalty to the elite.   

At the same time, Qodirov noted, “We have good relations with Moscow and little depends on who will be the ambassador to Russia.”