The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan urges citizens not to transport or use the harmala plant (hazorispand) in Russia.

The ministry reminded that in February 2024, Russia added harmala to the list of plants containing narcotic substances, making its possession and use for personal or medical purposes illegal in the country.

“According to Article 231 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, violators face fines or administrative arrest. Foreign nationals may also be subject to deportation,” the statement emphasized.

If the transported amount exceeds the legal limit, offenders can be fined up to 1 million rubles or face imprisonment.

“Therefore, citizens are strongly advised to refrain from using harmala in Russia and from bringing it into the country,” the ministry stated.

Tajik citizen arrested in Russia for transporting harmala

Earlier, in January 2024, a 28-year-old Tajik citizen was detained in Chelyabinsk for attempting to bring 317 grams of banned harmala across the border.  The man claimed he was unaware of the ban and intended to use the plant as medicine.

He now faces criminal charges under Articles 228 and 229.1 of the Russia’s Penal Code for illegal acquisition and transportation of plants containing narcotic substances, as well as drug-related extortion or theft. The maximum penalty is up to 20 years in prison.

Other newly banned plants in Russia

Along with harmala, shield-shaped turbina (Turbina corymbosa), which contains psychoactive alkaloids, has also been added to Russia’s list of prohibited plants. These plants are commonly used in folk medicine and shamanic rituals.  The ban aims to prevent their illegal cultivation and distribution.

Additionally, Russia has introduced criminal liability for cultivating tricolor morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor), known for its hallucinogenic properties.  Growing 10 to 100 plants is punishable under Article 231 of Russia’s Criminal Code (up to 8 years in prison), while cultivating more than 100 plants is classified as a major criminal offense.

Harmala or hazorispand

In Central Asia, Peganum harmala has been traditionally used for medical purposes, e.g. for treating skin diseases, joint pain, sore throat and cough.  It is also applied as an apotropaic means – fumigation with the smoke of burning dried twigs of Peganum harmala is commonly practiced to ward off evil spirits, “evil eye” and other malevolent forces.  According to the other explanations, it has purifying effects and kills microbes. 

Peganum harmala, commonly called wild rue, Syrian rue, African rue, esfand or espand, or harmel, is a perennial, herbaceous plant, with a woody underground rootstock, of the family Nitrariaceae, usually growing in saline soils in temperate desert and Mediterranean regions.  Its common English-language name came about because of a resemblance to rue (to which it is not related).  Because eating it would sicken or kill livestock, it is considered a noxious weed in a number of countries.  It has become an invasive species in some regions of the western United States.  The plant is popular in Middle Eastern and North African folk medicine.  The alkaloids contained in the plant, including the seeds, are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Harmine, Harmaline).