Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda proposes to impose punishment for going out in public without a face mask and violating distancing rules.  

He noted this on June 4 at a regular sitting of the Republican Commission for Prevention of the Further Spread of Coronavirus (Commission), according to the Prime Minister Secretariat.  

The meeting reportedly adopted an appeal to the citizens of the country calling on them to strictly observe “mask regime” and social distancing rules.   

The Republican Commission calls on residents of the regions to arrive in Dushanbe only in case of extreme necessity.  

Recall, a group of members of Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament (Majlisi Oli) last month proposed to make amendments to the country’s administrative code that could provide for a fine for going out in public without a face mask. 

“Face masks are mandatory for people in Tajikistan who go out in public during the coronavirus pandemic, but not all observe this decision of the Republican Commission for Preventing Further Spread of COVID-19 in Tajikistan,” a source within the Majlisi Namoyandagon told Asia-Plus in an interview.

“Therefore, MPs are currently exploring the issue of the possibility of imposing a fine for going out in public without a face mask,” the source added.

According to him, Majlisi Namoyandagon members also propose to tighten requirements of the country’s administrative code concerning sanitary-hygienic and sanitary-epidemiological rules and norms.

Current size of a fine for violation of these rules and norms reportedly ranges from 174.00 to 406.00 somoni. 

Although quarantine has not been officially declared in Tajikistan, the Republican Commission for Preventing Further Spread of COVID-19 in Tajikistan has decided that face masks are mandatory for people in Tajikistan who go out in public during the coronavirus pandemic.