Rustam Emomali

Tajik politician (born 1987)

Rustam Emomali

Рустам Эмомали

Emomali in 2023

Chairman of the Majlisi Milli

Incumbent

Assumed office
17 April 2020
Preceded by| Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev
Mayor of Dushanbe

Incumbent

Assumed office
12 January 2017
Preceded by| Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev
Personal details
Born|

Рустам Эмомалиевич Раҳмонов
Rustam Emomalievich Rahmonov

(1987-12-19) 19 December 1987 (age 36)
Danghara, Kulob Oblast, Tajik SSR, Soviet Union
Citizenship| Tajikistan
Political party| People's Democratic Party
Spouse| Fatimajon Rahmon
Children| 3
Parent(s)| Emomali Rahmon
Azizmo Asadullayeva
Relatives| Ozoda Rahmon (sister)
Alma mater| Tajik National University
Military service
Allegiance|  Tajikistan
Branch/service|  Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan (Reserve)
Customs Service of the Republic of Tajikistan
Years of service| 2014–present
Rank| Major general

Rustam Emomali (Tajik: Рустам Эмомалӣ, romanized: Rustam Emomalî/Rustam Emomalī; [ɾusˈtʰam e̞mɔmaˈli] born 19 December 1987) is a Tajik politician who is the current Chairman of the National Assembly of Tajikistan,[1] Mayor of Dushanbe and the eldest son of Emomali Rahmon, the long-standing authoritarian leader of Tajikistan.[2] Emomali's father appointed Emomali as the mayor of Dushanbe when he was 29 years old.[3]

Rustam Emomali is believed to be prepared by his father to succeed him as the leader of Tajikistan; he holds the title of the constitutionally designated successor to the presidency.[4][5] He heads the anti-corruption agency in Tajikistan[5] and the state's financial oversight agency.[3] Despite not having served in the armed forces, he holds the rank of major general.[6][7]

## Early life and football career

[edit]

Rustam Emomali was born as Rustam Emomalievich Rahmonov (Tajik: Рустам Эмомалиевич Раҳмонов; [ɾustæm emɔmælievitʃ ɾæhmɔnɔv]) in the district of Danghara, Kulob oblast (present-day Khatlon province) in Tajikistan, to parents Emomali Rahmon and Azizmo Asadullayeva. He graduated from the Tajik State National University with a specialist's degree in International Economic Relations and took courses with the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[8][9] In 2007, following his father's suit, he dropped the Russian-style patronymic and last name, adopting his father's first name, Emomali, as his new surname.

In 2007, Rustam Emomali co-founded the Dushanbe-based football club Istiklol and, during the next several years, he served as the club's captain and played for it as a striker.[10] The club has won five national championships consecutively since 2011, owing at least partially to very favorable refereeing and other preferences.[11][12] In 2011, Rustam Emomali was appointed deputy president of Tajikistan's Football Federation (TFT) and joined the International Relations Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia.[13] In January 2012, the TFT named Rustam Emomali its new president.[14] Following the appointment, he stopped playing for FC Istiklol and promised to cut all ties to the club. Starting in 2012, he served as a member of the FIFA Development Committee for two years.[15] In 2016, the TFT reelected Rustam Emomali as its president for another four years.[16]

He is known for his two expensive hobbies: car racing and collecting sports cars.[17]

He is the first recipient of "Argali Conservation Achievement Award".[18]

## Political promotions

[edit]

After graduating from the university, Rustam Emomali enjoyed rapid career growth thanks to his status as a son of the country's president. In 2006, he was appointed a leading specialist at Tajikistan's Organization for Cooperation with the World Trade Organization.[4] In 2009, he got a job as a leading specialist in the State Committee on Investments and State Property (SCISP) and was soon promoted to the position of a head of a department in the committee. During his work in the SCISP, he also served as an adviser to the committee.[19] Also in 2009, Rustam Emomali was appointed a deputy head of the Youth Union, the Tajik successor to the Soviet-era Komsomol organization.[20] Starting in 2009, Rustam Emomali began attending major international summits and meetings with foreign dignitaries in Tajikistan.[21] In 2010, he became a member of the central executive committee of the People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan and was elected a member of the Dushanbe municipal parliament.[22][23]

In February 2011, Emomali Rahmon appointed Rustam Emomali head of the anti-smuggling department in the Customs Service, the first in a number of senior law-enforcement positions that the Tajik president's son has held.[19][24] Soon after the appointment, he was given the rank of major.[25] In November 2013, Rustam Emomali was appointed head of the Customs Service.[26] The appointment came with a new military rank, major general.[6] In March 2015, president Emomali Rahmon appointed his son to head Tajikistan's principal anti-corruption agency, the State Agency For Financial Control and Measures Against Corruption.[27] In January 2017, Rustam Emomali was appointed Mayor of Dushanbe, a key position, which is seen by some analysts as the next step to the top of the government.[28]

## Political succession speculations

[edit]

Rustam Emomali's rapid career growth and his appointments to a number of different senior government positions has fueled speculations that he was being prepared to succeed his father as the leader of Tajikistan.[4][5] Rustam Emomali attends all key international summits in the country and accompanies his father during his frequent tours around the country. On 22 May 2016, a nationwide referendum approved a number of changes to the country's constitution.[29] One of the key amendments reduced the minimum eligibility age for presidential candidates from 35 to 30, effectively enabling Rustam Emomali to succeed his father in office after 2017.[30]

## Personal life

[edit]

Rustam Emomali is the oldest son of Tajikistan's president, Emomali Rahmon. He has eight siblings, including a younger brother, Somon.[31][32] He got married in 2009 to a daughter of a well-connected entrepreneur who owns a number of food-processing enterprises.[33] The couple has three children, two sons and a daughter.[34] Rustam's elder sister, Ozoda Rahmon, is the Presidential chief of staff[35] and a former senator.[36][37] One of his other sisters, Zarina Rahmon, was a deputy head of Orienbank, appointed in January 2017.[38][39]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "PRESIDENT EMOMALI RAHMON ATTENDS FIRST SESSION OF SIXTH CONVOCATION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY". Ministry of Health. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020. "I would also like to congratulate Rustami Emomali on his election as the Chairman of the Majlisi Milli of Majlisi Oli (National Assembly of the Parliament) of the Republic of Tajikistan, Ahmadzoda Rajabboy and Yodgor Fayzov as Principal Deputy Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Senate and wish them successes as well."
2. ^ "Will Rustam Emomali Become The Next President Of Tajikistan?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
3. ^ a b "Tajik President Makes Son Capital's Mayor". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
4. ^ a b c Bakhrom, Nadin (1 September 2015). "Will Tajikistan Be Ruled by a Emomali Dynasty?". Silk Road Reporters. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
5. ^ a b c Abdurasulov, Abdujalil (14 May 2016). "How Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon consolidated his power". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
6. ^ a b Panfilova, Viktoriya (18 March 2015). "Президент Таджикистана готовит сына в преемники [Tajikistan's President is Preparing His Son for Succession]". Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
7. ^ "Tajikistan: Succession process near close as president's son named Senate chair | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
8. ^ "Рустам Эмомали Рахмон". Stan Radar. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
9. ^ "В Таджикистане намерены изменить Конституцию ради сына президента". Fergana. Fergana News Agency. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
10. ^ "Tajikistan: Football Furor Opens Window on Political Discontent". EurasiaNet.org. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
11. ^ Kilner, James (8 January 2012). "Son of Tajikistan's president to head Tajik football federation". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
12. ^ "Tajik Football Club Sanctioned After Beating Team Founded By President's Son". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
13. ^ "Olympic Council of Asia International Relations Committee". Olympic Council of Asia. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
14. ^ "Tajik President's Son Named Head Of Football Federation". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
15. ^ "Tajik President's Son Becomes Member of FIFA's Development Committee". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
16. ^ Karaev, Sayfiddin (15 January 2016). "Рустам Эмомали будет президентом до 2020 года". Asia-Plus. Asia-Plus News Agency. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
17. ^ Sarkorova, Anora (30 September 2009). "Дочь такжикского лидера стала замглавой МИД республики [Tajik Leader's Daughter Appointed Deputy Foreign Minister]". BBC Russian. BBC Russian Service. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
18. ^ "Wild Sheep Foundation".
19. ^ a b "Tajik President's Son To Head Customs Service Department". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
20. ^ "Рустами ЭМОМАЛИ: первый шаг в политику". Asia-Plus. Asia-Plus News Agency. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
21. ^ "Страна в наследство. Президент Таджикистана готовит в преемники сына". Fergana. Fergana News Agency. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
22. ^ "Операция "преемник" началась?". Avesta. Avesta News Agency. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
23. ^ "Рустам, Хасан, Амонулло, Зайд и другие. Столичный маджлис по своей представительности обходит МН РТ?". Avesta. Avesta News Agency. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
24. ^ "Рустам Эмомали будет бороться с контрабандой". Asia-Plus. Asia-Plus News Agency. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
25. ^ "Рустами Эмомали приостанавливает свое членство в НДПТ". Asia-Plus. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2016 - via Asia-Plus News Agency.
26. ^ "Рустами Эмомали возглавил Таможенную службу". Asia-Plus. Asia-Plus News Agency. 30 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
27. ^ "Tajik President Appoints Son To Head Anticorruption Agency". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
28. ^ "Tajikistan: regime eternalization completed?". The Politicon. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
29. ^ "Tajikistan Approves Constitutional Changes Tightening Rahmon's Grip On Power". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
30. ^ "Tajiks to vote in 'president-for-life' referendum". Reuters. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
31. ^ Pannier, Bruce (10 February 2018). "The Happiest Member Of The Rahmon Family". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
32. ^ "Somon Emomali reportedly does not work with Talco Cable Industries". asiaplustj.info. AsiaPlus. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
33. ^ "Президент Таджикистана женил сына [Tajikistan's President Got His Son Married]". Trud. Trud Newspaper. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
34. ^ "В семье президента Таджикистана родился еще один Эмомали Рахмон, - СМИ". centralasia.media. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
35. ^ Putz, Catherine. "Edward Lemon on Tajikistan's Trajectory". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
36. ^ "Tajikistan leader's son named senate speaker". reuters.com. Reuters. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
37. ^ "Ozoda Rahmon, who heads President's Executive Office, turns 40 today". asiaplustj.info. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
38. ^ "Daughter Of Tajik President Named Deputy Head Of Major Bank". rferl.org. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
39. ^ Putz, Catherine. "Hired: Tajik President's Daughter Lands Deputy Post at a Major Bank". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

Political offices

Preceded by

Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev

|  Mayor of Dushanbe
2017–present  | Incumbent
Chairman of the Majlisi Milli
2020–present