Amendments made to the country’s Criminal Code stipulate that transfer of a SIM-card to a third person is punishable by a fine of US$8,500 or up to three years in prison. 

The same punishment is stipulated for of illegal sale or transfer of a SIM-card if it was used for terrorist purpose.   

President Emomali Rahmon singed the amendments made to the country’s criminal code on June 20, 2019 and the Interior Ministry published them on September 19. 

Article 341.1 added to the country Criminal Code stipulates that transfer of a SIM-card to the third person is punishable by up to three years in prison.  

Illegal connection to telecommunications or transfer a SIM-card to the third person and if the SIM-card was used for terrorist purposes, is punishable by a fine equal up to 1,500 estimated indicators 82,500 somoni equivalent to 8,500 U.S. dollars) or up to three years in prison.  

The amendments will take effect after publication in a state-run newspaper. 

New rules for SIM-card registration

In February 2019, the government issued a decree that defined the rules for SIM-card registration. In particular, the restrictions were imposed on the number of SIM cards — a citizen does not have the right to purchase more than two numbers – not from each operator but in total.

Also, the communications service agency became responsible to organize the next re-registration of SIM-cards.  The SIM-cards re-registration requires those who have passed the previous re-registration on “printed-on-paper” passports to have a passport of 2014 version (plastic passports or ID-card).