The Governor of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), Yodgor Fayzov, has been dismissed.

A source close to the GBAO government says Yodgor Fayzov has been relieved of his post of governor of the GBAO.

Alisher Mirzonabot, who had previously served as Mayor of the GBAO capital of Khorog, was reportedly appointed to head the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

According to the source, the GBAO government reshuffle was carried out today morning and the new GBAO governor was presented to the GBAO administration today afternoon.   

Another source told Asia-Plus that Rizo Nazarzoda, formerly deputy head of the Committee for Youth and Sports Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan, was appointed new Mayor of Khorog replacing Alisher Mirzonabot.   

Yodgor Fayzov was appointed to head the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region on October 1, 2018.  Fayzov replaced Shodikhon Jamshed as governor by executive order of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon following president’s dissatisfaction with the work of the former provincial leadership.  Prior to that Fayzov was head of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) office in Tajikistan.

Yodgor Fayzov, 60, is the most popular regional administrator in Tajikistan.  He has become famous for his unusual actions for Tajik society, frankness and accessibility to the public and the media.  

The newly-appointed GBAO governor Alisher Mirzonabot had previously served as Mayor of Khorog since November 2020.  Prior to that he had been the first deputy governor of the GBAO since October  2018.  From 2015 to October 2018, Mirzonabot served as deputy head of the State Committee for National Security.