Members of Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament (Majlisi Oli) have seconded amendments made to the country’s penal code. The amendments, in particular, note that persons convicted of a bribery offense cannot be released after paying a fine.
The 16th session of the Majlisi Milli of the fifth convocation, presided over by its head, Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, took place in Dushanbe on August 2.
The session considered a number of laws adopted by the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament). Among them is the law requiring amendments to the country’s penal code.
Speaking at the session, the Majlisi Milli member Ozoda Rahmon, who is also chairperson of President’s Executive Office, noted that under amendments proposed to the country’s Penal Code by the Government persons convicted of a bribery offense cannot be released after paying a fine. They will serve their jail terms.
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.
The Majlisi Namoyandagon repealed those amendments at the request of the government on June 14, 2018.
The amendment made to the country’s penal code stipulate that bribe taking is punishable by five to twelve years in jail, in some cases with confiscation of property and bribe giving is punishable by five to 10 years in jail with confiscation of property.
