DUSHANBE, April 22, 2014, Asia-Plus - Tajik government has endorsed the list of banks authorized to buy arms.

By government’s decree issued in March 2014 eleven domestic banks have the right to buy arms.  Among them are Agroinvestbonk, Orienbonk, Tojik Sodirot Bonk (TSB), Bank Eskhata, Tajprombank, Bonki Rushdi Tojikistan (Tajik Development Bank or TDB), The First MicroFinance Bank of Tajikistan, Sohibkorbonk, Fononbonk, Kafloatbonk, and Spitamen Bank.

The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) and Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) are not on this list because they are national banks, and therefore, they automatically have the right of purchasing arms in accordance with country’s laws.

An official source at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) says the purchase and the storage of weapons are conducted through the internal affairs bodies.

“To purchase arms, a bank should organize proper premises for storing them and after getting MoI’s approval for the purchase and the storage of arms it may buy arms for guarding itself,” the source said.

The arms are purchased mainly for cash carriers, who are authorized to carry guns, the source added.