Tajikistan Intel: Afghan Border & NGO Zones

Region Alert assesses that severe weather and mudslide risks remain the primary operational threat to NGO activities in Khatlon Province this week. On May 20, the Agency for Hydrometeorology issued a 5-day warning for heavy rains and mudslides across Khatlon Province from May 21-25. The Ministry of Transport has placed all road maintenance crews on 24/7 alert to respond to potential closures on the Muminabad-Kulob-Dushanbe corridor. Government surveillance of religious activities continues to result in heavy penalties. On May 15, Asia-Plus reported that a 21-year-old in Isfara was fined 7,020 TJS for unauthorized online religious teaching, and a student in Shahrituz (~150 km from Muminabad) was fined nearly 5,500 TJS for distributing religious books. This enforcement pattern applies to ALL non-state-sanctioned religious expression, including Christian worship. Economic disruptions are occurring due to a new tax policy. On May 20, Radio Ozodi reported that a new tax on electronic wallet transactions, set to begin September 1, has caused many merchants in Dushanbe and Khatlon to stop accepting digital payments. NGO staff should carry physical TJS cash for all local transactions to avoid payment issues.

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