Tajikistan is expected to toughen punishment for bribery. Amendments proposed to the country’s penal code, in particular, note that persons convicted of a bribery offense cannot be released after paying a fine.
A regular sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on June 13.
Parliamentarians discussed amendments proposed to the country’s Penal Code by the Government. Under these amendments, persons convicted of a bribery offense cannot be released after paying a fine.
Recall, the Majlisi Namoyandagon on February 10, 2016 endorsed amendments proposed by the Government to the Penal Code of Tajikistan. The amendments, in particular, provided for alternative punishment for bribery. Under those amendments, persons convicted of a bribery offense could be released after paying a fine at a rate of 200 somoni per each day of a jail term.
Parliamentarians noted at that time that the amendments proposed by the government could be considered as “humanist act.”
The amendments proposed by the government in February 2016, however, failed to reduce corruption in the country.
Today, parliamentarians repealed those amendments at the request of the government.
The country’s Penal Code provides for imprisonment ranging from five to twelve years for bribery offense (Article 319 and 320).
