Tajikistan has expanded the list of public officials required to annually declare their income and assets. The new rules now apply to employees of the National Bank of Tajikistan, staff of state-owned financial institutions, and officials working abroad in Tajik embassies or government missions.
The changes were signed into law by President Emomali Rahmon, amending the country's anti-corruption legislation. The law now includes six new provisions and updates to Article 21, which detail the procedures and categories of officials subject to disclosure.
Failure to submit the declaration or providing false information can lead to dismissal or removal from office.
Those affected include individuals with management or administrative responsibilities at state enterprises and institutions — including companies where the government owns at least 50% — except for technical or service staff.
What must be disclosed in the declarations
According to the amended law, officials must report:
· real estate (homes, dachas, land plots);
· vehicles and equipment;
· agricultural assets (livestock, poultry);
· shares in businesses, securities, bank deposits;
· precious metals and stones — both domestically and abroad.
The income declaration includes:
· salaries from primary and secondary employment;
· earnings from academic, creative, or teaching activities;
· rental income;
· profits from land and deposits;
· and other income sources with a description of their type.
Newly appointed officials must submit declarations upon taking office. Others are required to do so annually by April 1.
High-ranking officials and lawmakers must file their declarations with the tax authority and relevant government offices, including President’s Executive Office and the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).
Failing to submit or submitting false information can lead to removal from office or rejection of appointment.
It is worth noting that the requirement for public officials in Tajikistan to declare their income and assets has been in place since 2004. Initially, the law only required disclosure of real estate, land, and securities. However, legislative amendments in 2020 significantly broadened the scope, requiring officials to declare agricultural assets such as cows, horses, and poultry.
The issue of financial transparency among officials gained particular attention in 2019, when the then Head of the Civil Service Agency Juma Davlat stated that "Tajik society is not yet ready to accept it." He added that "once the level of awareness and understanding in society reaches that of Western countries, we will certainly raise the issue again."
In practice, however, officials' declarations have never been publicly disclosed. Some experts believe the reason lies in concerns that the extent of assets to be declared might raise questions about their origin. While a few mid-level officials have mentioned their income and assets at press briefings, they have not published formal declarations.
Experts suggest this is due to concerns that the size and origin of certain assets may raise public questions and scrutiny.
