A controversial law, which in theory is supposed to prevent excesses during weddings, funerals and other ceremonies, actually translates into a series of bureaucratic burdens with serious financial burdens for citizens. In the first six months of the year alone, the police carried out thousands of checks, collecting fines worth hundreds of thousands of euros.
Dushanbe () – In the first six months of 2024, Tajik courts have imposed numerous fines on the population amounting to 7 million somoni (almost 600 thousand euros) for violating laws on respect for traditions. In addition, fines for violation of parental responsibility amount to another 3.5 million somoni, thus reaching 900 thousand euros.
State officials describe these laws as “national” and necessary to “make life easier for the Tajik population.” In particular, the deputy chairman of the Dushanbe Committee for Religious Affairs and Respect for Traditions, Farrukhullo Olimzoda, believes that the law can “reduce the level of poverty in the country,” as per capita spending is said to have tripled since the law was passed in 2007. According to official data, bank deposits of the population are growing annually by 20-25%, and people are no longer borrowing money for various initiatives.
Olimzoda also notes that marriages have increased significantly: “While 57,115 new families were formed in Tajikistan in 2006, their number is increasing to 100,000 a year since the law was passed,” and social events are taking place more frequently, at 135-150,000 a year. However, despite the optimistic statistics, violations of the law on traditions have not disappeared in the country: the authorities speak of 12,000 police checks in the first half of this year, with 25,000 complaints filed. As Olimzoda comments, “the practice of organising excessive and extravagant forms of celebration continues.”
The Committee official also says that the Law on Traditions has also helped to “create conditions for ending the slaughter of animals historically representative of tribal customs.” This has led to a constant rise in the price of meat in Tajikistan, which has exceeded 100 somoni per kilo, and more and more of the slaughtered meat comes from Russia and European countries, in a country that remains heavily dependent on agricultural labour.
A report by Radio Ozody recounts the testimony of a resident of Dushanbe, Firdavs Davlatov (not his real name at the request of the interviewee), who in 2023 was fined 7,920 somoni for violating the law on traditions, for holding funeral celebrations on the occasion of his father’s death, despite the fact that he had organised them in the spaces specially reserved by the authorities, and had also offered refreshments in the nearby nursing home. However, the police broke up the gathering and imposed a fine exceeding the total cost of the event: “If this is a relaxation of living conditions, I can’t imagine what a relaxation would be like,” Firdavs commented.
Economist Ali Alizod believes that the law actually contains a number of bureaucratic burdens, which the authorities often overlook. “The law entails a long series of administrative procedures,” says Alizod, “such as approval of permission to organize a meeting of various kinds, health checks of the bride and groom before the wedding, signing of the contract between families, reservations of the restaurant and music groups, video filming expenses, etc.,” with heavy financial burdens. Even to gather a group for the so-called Utrennyj Plov, “morning rice,” in the cheapest restaurants you have to pay at least 15 thousand somoni, more than 1,250 dollars, while in the most popular establishments it rises to 150-160 thousand somoni.
In fact, in order to comply with the traditions according to the law, the inhabitants of Dushanbe still have to borrow money from relatives and acquaintances, and only the richest families manage to formally comply with the rules, which are then very often violated after initial checks. Tradition in Tajikistan is becoming more and more expensive and risky for the population.
Photo: Flickr / Evgeni Zotov
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