Tajikistan: Scandalous replacement of director of East Air

Firdavs Mukhtorov has been appointed acting director of East Air, a charter airline based in Dushanbe, replacing Vladimir Kuimov, "Asia-Plus" reported.

According to Vladimir Kuimov, senior representatives of the Dushanbe airport came to the East Air office while he was outside the country for health reasons and appointed new director of the company - Firdavs Mukhtorov.

"They entered the office without the knowledge of the company director general," said Kuimov, "It was the raider capture. We have sent our lawyers to the company."

Meanwhile, the new director of East Air, Firdavs Mukhtorov, says that there was no any raider capture. "Under Article 54 of Tajikistan's Civilian Aviation Code only citizen of Tajikistan may be director of the company, while Vladimir Kuimov is not citizen of Tajikistan and he had worked as acting director of the company for three years," sad Mukhtorov. "The shareholder who assumes the 51% ownership interest in the company has decided to appoint me director of the air company."

According to Mukhtorov, Vladimir Kuimov, who was outside the country, officially delegated his authority to Satanislav Yanchuk and the procedure of appointment of new director general of East Air was held in the presence of Mr. Yanchuk. The East Air Vice-President Pyotr Ivannik, who also owns aircraft of Eastok Avia FZE, also attended the procedure of appointment of the new director general of East Air, Mukhtorov added.

In the meantime, owners of aircraft have reportedly suspended flights operated by East Air from Kulob to Moscow and St. Petersburg following this incident. The flight from Dushanbe to New Delhi scheduled for July 19 is also still in doubt.

East Air is a charter airline based in Dushanbe. Wikipedia reports the airline provides charter services for various airlines, including Eastok Avia and Iraqi Airways.

The East Air fleet reportedly consists of: 1 Airbus A320 (1); 2 Boeing 737-200 (one of them is operated by Tajik Air); 2 Boeing 737-300 (one of them is operated by Icar Air); and 2 Boeing 737-400 (one operating for Eastok Avia and one operating for Iraqi Airways.

East Air now operates to the following destinations: Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg); and India (New Delhi).