Tajikistan has collected more than 57 million somonis (approximately US$5.2 million) in alimony payments over the first six months of this year, marking a significant year-on-year increase, according to Akhtam Abdullozoda, Director of the State Enforcement Service (Bailiff Service) under the Government of Tajikistan.
Who pays alimony?
From January to June, 57.3 million somonis in alimony payments were transferred to mothers and children — nearly 36 million somonis more than during the same period in 2024.
Abdullozoda emphasized that both men and women can be legally obligated to pay alimony. In the first half of 2025:
- 56 cases involved children paying support to parents,
- 28 cases involved women paying alimony to men or children,
- 40 cases involved grandparents paying for grandchildren.
Details on the sums recovered from female or elderly payers were not disclosed.
Who’s on the "black list"?
Between January and June, 1,056 debtors under court order paid 15.8 million somonis in total debts — including 5.2 million somonis in alimony — after being banned from leaving the country.
Currently, 2,910 individuals are listed in the State Enforcement Service’s Unified Register of Debtors. Those who fail to pay alimony for two months are automatically added to this list and barred from leaving Tajikistan until the debt is cleared.
Abdullozoda called the travel ban one of the most effective enforcement tools.
Criminal charges for persistent defaulters
So far in 2025, 156 criminal cases have been opened for persistent refusal to pay alimony, with 410 individuals declared wanted for non-payment or concealing their whereabouts.
According to Alijon Aminzoda, head of the enforcement oversight department:
- 25 individuals have been sentenced to prison,
- 107 to correctional labor,
- 25 fined.
“Those serving sentences or working under correctional orders continue to be held financially accountable. Their earnings are garnished for child support payments,” Aminzoda noted.
Who sets the alimony amount?
Officials clarified that the Enforcement Service is not responsible for determining or adjusting alimony amounts. Their role is limited to enforcing court-ordered payments.
