DUSHANBE, June 13, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan has canceled parliamentary immunity for members of regional, city and district legislatures.

Members of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have unanimously voted for amendments proposed by the government to the country’s laws on local government and legal status of members of local councils.  Under these amendments, parliamentary immunity of members of regional, city and district legislatures (Majlis) is canceled.

A regular sitting of the fourth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on June 13.

Speaking at the session, Tajik chief prosecutor Sherkhon Salimzoda noted that the proposed amendments were aimed at reducing the level of corruption in the country.

According to him, there were cases when members of local councils, who committed crimes, escaped punishment due to parliamentary immunity.

“In this connection, these amendments were proposed to the RT Law “On the Local Government” and the RT Law “On Legal Status of a Member of the Majlis of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Regions, Dushanbe City, Cities and Districts,” Salimzoda said.