DUSHANBE, March 30, 2016, Asia-Plus – The Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament) today endorsed amendments proposed by the government to the country’s Criminal Procedure Code.
Speaking at the session, the First Deputy Prosecutor-General, Hotam Nazarzoda, noted that the amendments were aimed at protecting the rights of persons suspected of committing any crime and raising the level of the law enforcement agencies’ responsibility.
Under the amendments proposed to the Criminal Procedure Code, the law enforcement agencies should provide lawyers to the alleged criminals from the moment of detention.
A confession obtained under torture is considered invalid, said the prosecutor. “A confession will be announced invalid if a defendant of his lawyer proves that it was obtained under means of torture, violence, and blackmail,” Nazarzoda noted.
He also stressed that a confession obtained beyond the norms of the country’s Criminal Procedure Code would also be considered invalid.
Besides, the law enforcement agencies will inform relatives of persons detained on suspicion of committing a criminal offence of their detention, Nazarzoda said.
