DUSHANBE, March 4, 2010, Asia-Plus -- The last 24th session of the outgoing Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) that took place in Dushanbe today seconded amendments to Tajikistan’s Penal Code criminalizing nonpayment of taxes in large and especially large scales.

Presenting the amendments, MP Mehmon Bakhti noted that for nonpayment of taxes in large scales (350,000 somoni) and especially large scales (700,000 somoni) tax defaulters would have to pay a penalty fee in an amount of 24,500 somoni and heads of legal entities would be punishable by two years in correctional labor.