Dushanbe. 26 August. “Asia Plus” — Ismoili Somoni district Court in Dushanbe has sentenced a 25-year-old resident of the capital Amirbek Isayev to a fine of 4000 somoni for treating his friends with a cake in a cafe on his birthday.
The court has accused Isayev in violation of article 8 of the law “On regulation of traditions and ceremonies in Tajikistan”, which says that citizens are obliged to celebrate birthdays only with the family.
The criminal case against an unemployed Isayev was initiated by the prosecutor office on the basis of photo that he has posted on his page on Facebook. On the photo was the birthday boy, his friends and the cake. In this same publication the man had the imprudence to thank the friends who were presented at the ceremony.
At a hearing in the court Isayev said that the happened was an accident, he and his girlfriend went to buy a cake, and then they dropped in a pub, where they met a company of their friends. The waiter, who was working with the guests, has also confirmed that he had not heard the congratulations to the defendant.
Despite this, the court passed a sentence to the birthday man and ordered Isayev to pay the fine. The young man confessed that currently he does not have the means to pay the fine and he is going to appeal the decision in a higher court.
