The price of freedom: Tajik bribe-takers were allowed to pay off prison

Фото: Depositphotos

Tajik bribers and bribe takers are now allowed to pay off prison sentences.

The Parliament adopted amendments to the criminal code, which provide for the possibility of imposing an alternative punishment in the form of a fine convicted for crimes related to giving and receiving bribes.

Freedom can be obtained by paying a fine at the rate of 200 somoni (24 dollar) for one day in jail.

If a person convicted of bribery receives, for example, seven years, he has the right to pay for the entire term of his imprisonment - this will cost him 511 thousand somoni.

The maximum fine is 840 thousand Tajik somoni (about 100 thousand dollars) - this amount is enough to pay 4200 days, or 11,5 years in prison.

The anti-corruption agency of Tajikistan called the government’s proposals, unanimously approved by Tajik deputies, a “humane act” aimed at decriminalizing economic crimes.

Opponents of the government say that the new changes have been adopted taking into account the interests of officials and their relatives, who most often become defendants in major corruption cases. The authorities, in their opinion, thus trying to protect themselves.

Scandals

The adoption of the new amendments coincided with the investigation of the high-profile corruption scandal, the main figure in which was Najmiddin Saidov - the brother of the head of the customs service of Tajikistan Abdufattokh Saidov.

Najmiddin Saidov, the head of a branch of one of the country's largest private banks, was detained last year on charges of accepting a bribe in the amount of $600.

The investigation of this case is still ongoing, although the main person involved in the high-profile corruption scandal has already been released after paying a fine in the amount of 200 thousand somoni.

To give or not to give a bribe is not a rhetorical question for Tajikistan - many people take it, but, according to the Tajik anti-corruption agency, the most corrupt are the Ministry of Education and the health care system.

It is much easier to hold a simple teacher or an ordinary doctor accountable than a high-ranking official. For this reason, there are the least number of criminal cases brought against corruption among high-ranking officials. Experts believe that it is a matter of fear - people are afraid of incurring the wrath of the authorities.

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