Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament yesterday endorsed amendments proposed by the government to the country’s penal code.
The amendments, in particular, tighten penalty for terrorism-related crimes but commute penalty for tax crimes.
Presenting the amendments, the First Deputy Prosecutor-General, Hotam Nazarzoda, noted that the proposed amendments tightened penalty for crimes related to terrorism, extremism, high treason, participation in illegal armed formations, justifying terrorism and extremism through media. He did not say to what an extent penalty for those crimes would be tightened.
Besides, the amendments stipulate that persons charged with high treason could now face up to life in prison.
Currently, Article 305 of the Tajik Penal Code stipulates that high treason is punishable by 12 to 20 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Under the changes proposed by the government, public servants and officers of the power-wielding agencies could face for such crimes up to 25 years in jail with confiscation of property, and in exceptional cases, they could face up to life in prison.
Meanwhile, the amendments provide for commuting penalty for crimes related to nonpayment of taxes.
Persons charged with nonpayment of a tax can avoid a jail sentence if they settle their tax debt within 24 day after detection of crime.
Such persons can also be released from penal responsibility if they pay off their tax debts during judicial inquiry.
