DUSHANBE, November 27, 2015, Asia-Plus – The law amending the country’s law on advocacy went into effect yesterday as it was published in the state-run newspaper
Jumhuriyat
.
We will recall that the bill was endorsed by Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament on November 4 and Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper house of parliament) seconded it on November 12. The president signed this law on November 23.
Under the amendments proposed to the advocacy law by the government, already convicted persons are prohibited from practicing law.
Besides, persons dismissed from power-wielding and law enforcement agencies for corruption crimes or breach of oath are also prohibited from practicing law.
Stateless persons, persons who are not nationals of Tajikistan, and persons with dual citizenship are also prohibited from offering legal services in Tajikistan.
Persons who failed to pass attestation are also prohibited from practicing law.
Henceforth defense lawyers do not have the right to represent their relatives in court.
More than 1,600 people now offer legal services in Tajikistan and more than 1,400 of them are united in various barristers’ associations.
