DUSHANBE, June 6, 2013, Asia-Plus – Dilshod Rahimov, the nephew of Tajik businessman and former industry minister Zayd Saidov, claims that the Dushanbe-based enterprises, Tojikatlas, belonged to him but not to his uncle.

In an interview with Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, Dilshod Rahimov said on June 5 that he purchased Tojikatlas in 2006 and the name of Abdusamad Saidov (driver of Nizomkhon Jourayev) was on the document for the purchase of the enterprise.  According to Rahimov, he then sold Tojikatlas to Iranian national Sherdoust.

Rahimov says his uncle had nothing to do with those bargains.

We will recall that according to a statement released by the anticorruption agency last month, Zayd Saidov is suspected of having committed grave economic crimes during the time when he was minister of industry.  The statement says these facts were allegedly revealed during the preliminary investigation into case of Tajik tycoon Nizomkhon Jourayev (the so-called “Isfarans’ Case”).

During a confrontation held on May 20, ex-director of the Isfara chemical plant, Nizomkhon Jourayev, reportedly said that he gave a bribe of US$100,000 to Zayd Saidov in 2005.

Meanwhile, the anticorruption agency deputy head Millopar Bandishoyev says Jourayev was forced to give his enterprise, Tojikatlas, to Zayd Saidov.

Local experts consider that the allegations are part of growing pressure against Zayd Saidov by authorities since he announced his political intentions.

Zayd Saidov was detained on May 19 on charges of corruption and he was stripped of his parliamentary immunity on May 20.  Saidov denies any wrongdoing and says his case is politically motivated.