DUSHANBE, June 24, 2014, Asia-Plus – A gardener at the “Karatag” rest house (Tursunzoda district), Tuymurod Ghaniyev, 38, was arrested on June 21 on suspicion of maintaining a house of prostitution.

According to the Interior Ministry’s website, the preliminary investigation has established that Ghaniyev provided the rest house rooms for intimate relations to M.S., 34, and R.R, 29, for 100 somoni.  

We will recall that Tajik law enforcement authorities launched a campaign against people accused of “moral crimes” in early June.  Police have reportedly seized more some 500 sex workers.

The Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda held an extraordinary meeting on June 5 to discuss issues related to prevention of crimes against morality such as prostitution, trafficking in prostitutes, sexual exploitation and trafficking in human beings.

The minister expressed concern about increase in the number of these crimes in the country and ordered to make special raids to detain people involved in prostitution, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.  Such people will be included in the Interior Ministry’s electronic database.

The minister instructed police to compile a list of anyone who is detained in connection with prostitution, and to subject sex workers detained in police raids on brothels to compulsory medical tests for HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Rahimzoda also suggested that amendments should be made to the country’s family code to strengthen family ties and prevent divorces.