On Tuesday April 15, President Emomali Rahmon signed the laws adopted the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) and seconded by the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament), according to the Tajik president’s official website.  

Among these laws are the “Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan,” “Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on Other Mandatory Payments to the Budget,” and “Amendments and Additions to the Tax Code of the Republic of Tajikistan.”

Under the law "On the Amendments to the Criminal Code," criminal responsibility is introduced for external interference with electricity meters and the alteration of their readings in order to avoid paying for the electricity used or to use electricity without connecting to the meter, a statement notes.

For committing this crime in a large or especially large amount using official duties, by a group of people, an organized group, or a criminal community, a punishment of imprisonment for a term of 3 to 10 years is provided, the Tajik president’s official website emphasizes.

Other signed laws aim to protect the environment and public health from emissions from worn-out vehicles, as well as to improve tax rates and mandatory payments. The adopted laws are aimed at ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and the well-being of citizens.

The full text of the laws will be published in the press, after which they will enter into legal force.

For stolen electricity – a jail term

Changes have been made to Article 253 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan — causing property damage through fraud or abuse of trust.

According to Part 1 of the article, for changing the readings of an electricity meter to evade payment for consumed electricity, or for using electricity bypassing the meter, if such an act is committed within one year after the application of an administrative penalty, criminal punishment in the form of a fine ranging from 365 to 547 calculation indicators or imprisonment for up to three years is provided.

It should be noted that one calculation indicator is currently equal to 75 somoni.

According to Part 2 of this article, the same act, if committed on a large scale, by a person using their official position or by a group of people in a preliminary conspiracy, is punishable by a fine ranging from 800 to 1000 calculation indicators or imprisonment for a term of 3 to 6 years, with the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years.

According to Part 3 of this article, acts provided by Parts 1 or 2 of this article, if committed on an especially large scale or by an organized group or criminal community (criminal organization), are punishable by a jail term of 6 to 10 years, with the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 5 years.

What will be the punishment under the Code of Administrative Offenses?

The concepts of “large” and “especially large” amounts are explained in the commentary to Article 244 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, according to which a large amount is understood as property worth more than 1000 times the size of the calculation indicator.

An especially large amount is defined as property worth more than 2000 times the size of the calculation indicator.

If a crime provided by this article (except for Part 3) is committed, and the offender fully compensates the damage caused before the court verdict is delivered, they may be sentenced to a fine or other punishment not related to imprisonment.

Meanwhile, due to amendments to the Criminal Code, Article 382 of the Administrative Offenses Code of Tajikistan will be revised.

According to the changes, for using electricity without connecting to an electricity meter, unauthorized connection to electricity networks and equipment, using electricity and thermal energy without necessary control and accounting devices or without a contract with electricity and heating supply organizations, breaking and removing seals from meters, as well as interference with the work of electricity meters from outside and altering their readings to evade payment for consumed electricity, administrative punishment in the form of a fine is imposed:

• On individuals – from 20 to 30 calculation indicators,
• On officials – from 30 to 50 calculation indicators,
• On legal entities – from 200 to 300 calculation indicators.

What is the level of losses – technical and commercial?

In Tajikistan, the level of electricity losses, according to energy specialists, remains very high, despite various activities with multi-million expenditures.

According to data from energy companies, a quarter of electricity is lost during its generation, transmission, and distribution.

Losses in production and transmission through high-voltage lines, which relate to technical losses and the costs of substations for their own needs, are minimal.   According to official data, energy losses at hydropower plants (HPPs) and thermal power plants (TPPs) in 2024 amounted to 0.42% of total production, while losses on high-voltage lines and substations were 3.31%.

The vast scale of losses is seen in the distribution of electricity, which is classified as commercial losses and commonly referred to as theft.  The level of such losses last year, according to JSC Electricity Distribution Network was 21.6%.

Independent experts claim that the actual level of losses is twice as high and exceeds 40%.