Currently, the president's administration has not provided any comments regarding Rahmon's whereabouts or health condition. Some opposition activists are speculating about the possible illness of the president and his being under medical supervision.
The situation was exacerbated by the publication on February 6 of a photo of Rustam Emomali, the president's eldest son and speaker of the National Assembly, in the company of leaders from three regions. Additionally, on February 9, a recommendation appeared on his Facebook page stating that "children will remember their parents if they are raised well," which only fueled speculation about the health of the Tajik leader.
On February 9, the news agency "Pamir Insight," citing three sources, reported that Emomali Rahmon left the country at the end of January for medical assistance. According to media reports, Tajik law enforcement agencies are on heightened alert, which is likely to last until February 12.
Despite the lack of official confirmations, on February 10, a source close to the Tajik government told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the president is on vacation and receiving treatment on Hainan Island in China.
Another source at the same radio clarified that Rahmon flew to China on February 8.
Just a month ago, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated in an interview that "Emomali Rahmon has no health problems."
This is not the first time Emomali Rahmon has disappeared from the public eye. In 2020, his opposition claimed that he was ill and possibly receiving treatment in Germany, which was later denied by the authorities. In 2022, after tense border conflicts with Kyrgyzstan, Rahmon also did not appear in public for two weeks.
In 2017, rumors about his health began to spread actively on social media. Some media outlets close to the government explained his poor health by a heavy workload.
Emomali Rahmon, who is 74 years old, has been the president of Tajikistan since 1994. Two years prior, he was the chairman of the Supreme Council and the de facto leader of the country. He has successfully strengthened his position in elections and extended his term in office by repeatedly amending the constitution.
Throughout his rule, Rahmon has faced the fact that his opponents either left the country or ended up behind bars. He is considered a symbol of Tajikistan's achievements, and many of his relatives hold high positions in the government or run large businesses.
