Tajik police detain man accused of promising jobs in Slovakia to 22 citizens

Law enforcement in Tajikistan has detained a resident of Vahdat Township on suspicion of organizing illegal migration. The individual, identified as Kholmahmad Taghoybekov, also known as Hoji Kholmad, is accused of recruiting job seekers with promises of employment in Slovakia.

Taghoybekov allegedly arranged travel for 22 Tajik citizens to Uzbekistan, where they were told they would need further training and documents before heading to Europe. Each victim reportedly paid over $700 for documents and arrangements that were later found to be valid only within Uzbekistan and unrelated to European employment.

Investigators determined that seven months after the initial arrangements, none of the applicants had been sent to any European country. The total cost for each victim, including document processing, travel, and accommodation, exceeded 12,000 somoni, with Taghoybekov allegedly collecting an additional 1,300 somoni from each participant. The Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that the suspect has been prosecuted four times previously. The investigation is ongoing.

This case follows a similar employment fraud scheme earlier this year, where 69 Tajik citizens lost nearly 2 million somoni after being promised jobs in the United Kingdom. Embassies of the UK and Germany in Dushanbe have warned citizens to be cautious of unofficial job advertisements and intermediaries when seeking overseas employment.