Tajikistan 2019 Crime & Safety Report
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Tajikistan 2019 Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Tajikistan at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. Review OSAC’s Tajikistan-specific webpage for original reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Crime Threats There is considerable risk from crime in Dushanbe. However, crime directed toward Western expatriates and foreign entities is relatively low. Although there are few indications that criminals target Westerners, outsiders are quickly and easily identifiable, and perceived as being affluent. Petty theft and unarmed robbery are common. The levels of corruption at all levels of the government and the private sector are very high. Transparency International ranked Tajikistan 161st out of 180 countries in its Corruption Perceptions Index for 2017. Be careful in establishments that serve alcohol; nefarious actors have slipped drugs into unwatched drinks, leading to criminal acts. Insist servers open any drinks in your presence. Follow the same smart personal security rules you would follow in any major city, particularly one in the former Soviet Union. For more information, review OSAC’s Report Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad. Dushanbe does have a nightlife, and some clubs will have prostitutes. Prostitution is illegal in Tajikistan; engaging in it may also lead to U.S. prosecution under some circumstances. Tajikistan faces a number of economic, political, border, and overall security challenges that can affect the crime rate. Exacerbating this is the local police’s inability and occasional unwillingness to detect, deter, and investigate criminal activity. Tajikistan is overly reliant on migrant labor remittances from the large Tajik diaspora working in Russia; thus, when the Russian economy suffers, the Tajik economy suffers. That, in turn, leads to economic hardship, even desperation, and possibly a correlation with increased crime. 1 Be mindful when renting an apartment. Try to choose an apartment that has secure doors and windows, employs a security service or guard, and limits access to the building at the main entrances. Expatriates are vulnerable to home robbery, so the physical security aspects of housing are important such as having grilles on lower floor windows, ensuring well-illuminated streets and entrances, and choosing residences in good neighborhoods. Secure valuables in your home or hotel. Cybersecurity Issues Internet service providers are widely available and affordable. Instances of cybercrime are comparatively infrequent and unsophisticated, making this a low priority for law enforcement, which has minimal cybersecurity capability. Because Tajikistan is within Russia’s “near abroad,” significant Internet traffic routes through Russia, a recognized source of cybercrime. Tajikistan authorities monitor Internet content and periodically block websites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) and news sources at the national level. Virtual private networks (VPNs) generally work with most Internet providers; however, they are illegal. Some Internet providers are also able to block VPN traffic, so your results may vary by both Internet provider and VPN provider. Other Areas of Concern There is a history of territorial dispute along the Tajik-Uzbek and Tajik-Kyrgyz borders, which has the potential to develop into limited armed conflict. There have been several instances of armed skirmishes between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards over the past four years, particularly in the area of Isfara and the Vorukh enclave. Find information about travel restrictions or areas of concern on the Embassy’s website. A recent warming of Tajik-Uzbek relations has eased concerns on that border. Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) in the Pamirs is a restricted region for non-Tajik citizens. GBAO, beginning on the west side of the border with Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, covers most of the eastern portion of Tajikistan. To cross into GBAO, an expatriate must use designated checkpoints and have special permission in the form of a passport stamp one can only obtain from the Interior Ministry’s Department of Visas and Registration in Dushanbe. This permission is usually not difficult to obtain, but processing can take up to two weeks. The government closes GBAO to foreigners periodically. In 2018, there were heightened tensions between the Tajik government and GBAO authorities when the President visited GBAO, fired several government officials, and deployed additional police and security officials to counter the perception of widespread corruption. From Dushanbe into GBAO, the initial posts for checking GBAO permission sit near Shurobod in the Khatlon Region and just north of Qalai-Khum in the Darvos Region. Transportation-Safety Situation For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. 2 Road Safety and Road Conditions Transportation infrastructure is gradually improving, though erratic driving and car accidents are common. Drivers should have a thorough knowledge of Tajik traffic regulations, and practice defensive driving techniques. In Dushanbe, the police make heavy use of traffic cameras. They also tend to be calibrated so that a car pulled up to a stop bar in the street will still be photographed and fined. Tajik drivers tend to stop several meters short of crosswalks to avoid these fines. U.S. drivers should note in particular that turning right on red is illegal. For more information on self- driving, review OSAC’s Report Driving Overseas: Best Practices. Pedestrians do not cross streets at dedicated crossing points, and often do not look both ways before crossing. Any driver who strikes a pedestrian will be considered at fault, regardless of pedestrian negligence. Expect taxis and marshrutkas (shared taxis) to stop unexpectedly or swerve to pick up and drop off passengers. Tajik drivers often do not check traffic before merging onto a roadway, and they frequently drive the wrong way down one-way streets. Traffic lights often do not work, and the right-of-way in major traffic circles can depend on the circle. Drivers should pay careful attention to marked turn lanes (even if the paint is faded) because these lanes are often covered by traffic cameras, and those cameras will photograph a turn made outside that turn lane, even if the vehicle is only partially outside the turn lane. Traffic police regularly pull cars over to check documents or charge fines, both official and unofficial. Occasionally, armed men in camouflage uniforms, usually from the security services, accompany the traffic police. In most cases, this occurs prior to and during major events, VIP movements, and security exercises. Tajikistan has zero-tolerance laws regarding drinking and driving. Police will charge those caught driving after consuming any amount of alcohol. Provincial travel, especially in winter, can be dangerous, as avalanches, mudslides, rockslides, and flooding often block major routes. In January 2018, a rockslide killed a local driver in western GBAO along the major Pamir Highway. The roads from Dushanbe to Khujand and from Dushanbe to GBAO can be closed for long periods due to avalanches and snow accumulation. These major routes sometimes consist of a single gravel lane along a mountain that can barely handle the large cargo trucks that supply the more distant regions. Provincial roads that traverse mountainous terrain along the Afghan border are difficult to navigate year-round. Take sufficient emergency equipment (e.g. satellite phone, shovel, snow chains in the winter, food, water, and blankets) on road trips. Distracted driving can easily result in a fatal accident because of the lack of guard rails on roads traversing plunging gorges. The scenery along these routes can be truly stunning, but memorial stones to those killed in such accidents dot these roads. Public Transportation Conditions In Dushanbe, public transportation is often overcrowded and not operated at Western-level safety standards. Travelers without a basic understanding of Russian or Tajik languages may find it difficult to navigate and communicate with the drivers of public transportation, as most drivers do not speak any English. Avoid crowded electric trolley buses and marshrutkas. Taxis are generally safe, but female travelers should use caution, as there have been several reports of taxi drivers sexually harassing female passengers. 3 Aviation/Airport Conditions Aviation security generally conforms to international standards. However, flights are often subject to short notice cancellation due to weather or other technical considerations, and domestic flights are often overloaded. Foreigners have reported harassment and bribe requests at Dushanbe International Airport (DYU), often over allegedly incorrect documentation or made-up violations at the security checkpoint that follows