A new article stipulating punishment for insulting the Founder of Peace and National Unity and the Leader of the Nation will be included in Tajikistan’s Penal Code.

President Emomali Rahmon, who is also head of the Government, singed an appropriate government’s decree on this subject on October 13.

By government’s decree a new article – Article 37’ (1) – provided for punishment for insulting the Founder of Peace and National Unity and the Leader of the Nation will be included in Tajikistan’s Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Article 137 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code stipulates that “publicly insulting the President of the Republic of Tajikistan or slander addressed at him” is punishable by up to five years in jail.  

Recall that the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) passed the law “On Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation,” which designated President Emomali Rahmon “the Leader of the Nation” on December 9, 2015 and members of Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Millii) unanimously voted to second the law on December 18, 2015.

On October 26, 2016, Tajik lawmakers unanimously voted to give President Emomali Rahmon the tile “Founder of Independent Tajikistan.”