Larisa Alexandrova is not only a human rights activist in her professional life but also at home. She actively advocates for criminal punishment for domestic violence in Tajikistan, where there is still no specific law addressing it. On one occasion, she had to protect her daughter's 17-year-old friend from domestic abuse, only to be accused of "violating Tajik traditions."
We spoke with her about why domestic violence still does not carry criminal liability in our country, why people prefer to stay silent, and why neighbors turn a blind eye when they hear a husband beating his wife.
Alexandrova, a gender specialist, lawyer, and human rights advocate, was involved in drafting the new Criminal Code and continues to push for a separate article criminalizing domestic violence. She has been actively engaged in discussions with government institutions to advance this cause.
"The problem of domestic violence against women and girls is a pressing issue for human rights activists, but at the state level, it does not receive enough attention, in my opinion," the expert notes.
Lack of state funding and societal indifference
She says government funding to address domestic violence is insufficient, which also means that response measures remain inadequate. However, the main issue—confirmed by all research—is that when domestic violence occurs, people prefer not to intervene, believing that "it’s a family matter; today they argue, tomorrow they reconcile, and preserving the family is the most important thing."
“Even in cases where domestic violence leads to death, authorities launch an investigation but fail to consider that the victim may have reported abuse multiple times before her death,” Alexandrova said, noting that no one is held accountable for ignoring these reports and allowing the situation to escalate into tragedy.
Despite the government's claims of commitment to combating domestic violence, it has yet to adopt a separate article in the Criminal Code, even after five years of discussions.
The problem with the new Criminal Code
Alexandrova argues that changes could have been made to the existing Criminal Code, but authorities are waiting for the new one. However, the definition of domestic violence in the draft version of the new code has already been revised twice.
"In the first version, which I helped draft, the article criminalized both physical violence (even minor bodily harm) and psychological abuse, including controlling behavior. It included penalties such as imprisonment or corrective labor. Most importantly, it recognized domestic violence as a crime."
However, in the second version, the article was reworked, and punishments for minor bodily harm and psychological abuse were completely removed. Under this revision, punishment only applies if the victim suffers moderate bodily harm.
“But how badly must someone be beaten for the harm to be considered 'moderate'? Does the victim have to lose both hearing and vision at the same time? Even then, forensic experts determine the severity of the injuries, and the psychological trauma suffered by the victim is not taken into account.”
According to her, this weakened version of the article only worsens the situation for those at risk of domestic violence. And even in this form, it remains uncertain whether it will be adopted, as the process has stalled both politically and within the mindset of state officials.
Male-dominated decision-making
Most decision-makers in Tajikistan are men, many of whom hold patriarchal views. However, not all women in power support women's rights either. Some women in government, Alexandrova notes, are even more conservative than their male counterparts, holding traditional, patriarchal beliefs.
Limited support services for victims
Currently, Tajikistan has only one state-run shelter for victims of domestic violence and four shelters operated by non-governmental organizations, which struggle with limited resources and often cannot find donors.
Meanwhile, according to international standards, there should be one shelter per 100,000 people—a facility where women can stay with their children, receive psychological, social, and legal support, restore their documents, and be provided with basic necessities such as food and hygiene.
Years ago, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), eight emergency medical rooms were set up across the country for pregnant women in crisis situations. These rooms later became spaces for victims of domestic violence, and their number has since grown to 22 nationwide. However, many of these facilities remain underutilized due to a lack of awareness and accessibility.
The need to criminalize all forms of domestic violence
It is crucial to criminalize all types of domestic violence, including psychological abuse and coercive control. Measures such as corrective labor or short-term arrests could serve as an immediate deterrent.
Moreover, the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence needs to be revised. A group of legal experts, including Alexandrova, has proposed a new law titled "On the Prevention and Combatting of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence."
This law would introduce more effective legal protections for victims, define gender-based violence as a form of discrimination, and ensure stronger enforcement mechanisms.
However, as long as the issue remains low on the government’s priority list, victims of domestic violence in Tajikistan will continue to suffer without proper legal protection.
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