A street race held in Dushanbe featuring Russian Chechen blogger Askhab Tamayev and Tajik influencer Ismoil Ghaniyev, known online as “yatank,” has stirred widespread criticism and raised legal concerns in Tajikistan.
The event, which took place on October 19, led to the temporary closure of the Dushanbe–Chanak highway — a key route connecting the southern and northern regions of the country — for several hours. The disruption triggered traffic jams and drew sharp reactions from residents and social media users alike.
While car races of this nature are strictly prohibited under Tajik law, videos circulating on social media show police officers monitoring the race and maintaining order, prompting questions about official involvement or approval.
Under Article 326, Part 1, of the Administrative Code of Tajikistan, organizing or participating in unauthorized street races is punishable by a fine ranging from 18,000 to 21,600 somoni (approximately US$1,650–US$1,980) and a two-year suspension of the driver's license. Repeat offenses within a year can lead to fines up to 28,800 somonis.
It was unable to determine who organized the event or whether it had received official permission. However, Tamayev claimed on his social media that the mayor of Dushanbe had made arrangements for the race, despite the lack of a proper racetrack in the city.
According to the Branch of Innovative Road Solutions (IRS) in Tajikistan, which operates the toll on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, more than 5 kilometers of the highway, near the “Kuli Dushanbe” (Dushanbe Lake) area, were blocked off to accommodate the race. Notably, authorities did not issue any formal notice to the public regarding the road closure.
Reports suggest that Ismoil Ghaniyev emerged as the winner of the race.
Tamayev, who has over 15,000 followers on Instagram, previously participated in a similar race in Uzbekistan against a local influencer and won. Following that event, he asked followers in a video where in Central Asia they would like to see him next.
In response, Ghaniyev invited Tamayev to Tajikistan via a video message, asking his Instagram followers to forward the invitation to the Chechen blogger. On July 23, Tamayev replied under a video post, saying that his followers should “expect him in Tajikistan.”
The incident has reignited debates over road safety, public accountability, and the selective enforcement of laws in Tajikistan, with many citizens demanding clarification from authorities about the legal basis for the event and the decision to shut down a major highway.
