President Emomali Rahmon once again made newspaper headlines by turning the media’s attention from the ongoing energy crisis to himself, only to reinforce his portrayal of a national “savior.” At a government meeting on January 25-26, Rahmon carried out major government reshufflings, punishing and firing some officials while sparingly complimenting others. The government sitting was meant to sum and review the major achievements and failures of 2007. Similar meetings take place annually, but this one turned into a scandalous public show, with the President as national prosecutor and defender, “fighting” against faulty and inefficient officials.

Tajikistan has been experiencing winter energy shortages for several years, but this year was particularly miserable, being coupled with severe weather conditions and high gas and food prices. Throughout the autumn, the government held regular sessions discussing various measures to improve winter conditions – coal production and natural gas extraction were planned to increase; several strategic hydroelectric stations under construction were supposed to start working before the winter. But none of these targets were fully met, and in no way eased the energy shortages. The government rearrangements of January 25-26 were provoked by the failure of officials to adequately prepare for and react to the numerous “winter surprises” that almost caused the announcement of a state of emergency in Tajikistan.

The cabinet meeting was broadcast on national TV, where people could watch the president in a fit of anger, yelling at ministers, making pompous statements, firing high officials and blaming the government for neglect and exacerbating the miserable winter situation. The president reprimanded the head of “Barqi Tojik”, a state company that oversees the production and consumption of electricity; the minister of industry and energy; and the chairman of “Tojikgas” for inefficiency and lack of foresight. However, these officials were not fired; later, the president explained that there is a scarcity of expertise, and the head of “Barqi Tojik” alone had been replaced four times already. Each of these mentioned officials got a six-month deadline to improve their work.

The chairman of National Bank, Mr. Murodali Alimardonov, got his portion of criticism from the President and was less fortunate. He was accused of providing insufficient credit for agriculture and was fired from the National Bank’s chairmanship, which he had held for the last thirteen years. He received a direct order from the president to “put his boots on and go out into the field to resolve problems and debts of the agricultural sector”. There were other rearrangements within the government, as well as streams of criticism, during the sitting. The mayor of Dushanbe, Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloev, was blamed for lack of foresight and insufficient measures taken to ease people’s hardship during the electricity limitations in the capital. As part of his censure, the President said that “people don’t care who is responsible for what. Common people will blame neither you [Mr.Ubaidulloev], nor “Barqi Tojik,” or “Tojikgas”. People will blame me [the president] for failing to secure them and for neglect.”

In its turn, the Tajik opposition used its chance to be heard and criticized the President and the authorities over the energy crisis. Rahmatullo Valiyev, the leader of the opposition Tajik Democratic Party, accused authorities of incompetence to solve the country’s long-standing energy crisis. Mr. Valiyev called on Tajik leaders to fulfill their constitutional duty before the nation and take emergency measures. Moreover, the “Vatandor” opposition group demanded the resignation of the president and the cabinet. “Vatandor” invited people nationwide to submit signatures electronically for this resignation. Due to these public appeals, one of the popular Tajik news websites is on the verge of being closed.

The president severely criticizes government officials, tearing them to pieces verbally; they are defending themselves; meanwhile, the severe energy crisis persists, making people's lives an unbearable agony. Most people in Tajikistan receive only a few hours of electricity per day, and have to contend with limitations on natural gas while prices for basic goods are unaffordable. Tajikistan now records the highest growth in consumer prices in Central Asia (upwards of 20 percent) and the lowest GDP growth (around 7 percent). The ostentatious government sitting will hardly ease the lives of people, or have any real consequences. But being pure PR, scapegoats were found and the president’s reputation escaped undamaged.