Officers of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) have got the right to come onto citizens’ property without permission after the parliament has endorsed amendments proposed to the country’s law on the national security bodies.

A regular sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on October 19.

Presenting amendments proposed to the country’s law on national security bodies, the head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), Saymumin Yatimov, noted, “Under amendments worked out by the government, the security officers will have the right to enter homes of citizens only in exceptional cases.  For example, when there is a real threat of perpetration of the terrorist act or for the purpose of protecting lives and health of people and releasing hostages.”     

Besides, the proposed amendments establish new rules of use force, weapons and special equipment by security officers in case of appearance of a real threat of perpetration of the terrorist act.

Majlisi Namoyandagon Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov noted that the country’s legislation provided for compensations to people “whose homes or property were damaged during an anti-terrorist operation.”