Unofficial translation of the current version published in the “Adliya” Centralised Legal Information Bank of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan (as of 19.10.2026). In case of any discrepancy, the official Tajik and Russian texts prevail.
(as amended by Laws of the RT No. 384 of 20.03.2008, No. 621 of 21.07.2010, No. 962 of 19.03.2013, No. 1210 of 08.08.2015, No. 1242 of 23.11.2015, No. 1575 of 02.01.2019 and No. 1801 of 25.06.2021)
Chapter 1. General provisions
Article 1. Relations regulated by this Law
This Law regulates public relations connected with the exercise by citizens of the right to unite in public associations and with the creation, activity, reorganisation and liquidation of public associations.
Article 2. Scope of this Law
This Law applies to all public associations created in the established manner, except for public associations (religious organisations, political parties, trade unions and other public associations) whose creation and activity are regulated by separate laws.
Article 3. Legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan on public associations
The legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan on public associations is based on the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan and consists of this Law, other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan and international legal acts recognised by Tajikistan.
Article 4. Right of citizens to association
1. The right of citizens to association includes the right to create public associations on a voluntary basis to protect common interests and achieve common goals, to join existing public associations or refrain from joining them, and to leave these associations freely.
2. Citizens have the right to create public associations on their own, without prior permission from state bodies, and to join such public associations subject to compliance with their charters.
Article 5. Public association
A public association is a voluntary, self-governing, non-profit association of citizens united on the basis of common interests to achieve the goals set out in the charter of the public association.
Article 6. Founders, members and participants of a public association
1. The founders of a public association are natural persons and legal entities – public associations – that convene a congress, conference, general or founding meeting at which the charter of the public association is adopted and its governing and audit bodies are formed. The founders of a public association have equal rights and equal duties.
2. The members of a public association are natural persons whose interest in jointly solving the tasks of the association in accordance with its charter is formalised by individual applications or relevant documents, which makes it possible to keep count of the members of the public association. Members of a public association have equal rights and duties.
Members of a public association have the right to elect and be elected to the governing and audit bodies of the association and to oversee the work of the governing body of the public association in accordance with its charter.
Members of a public association have rights and duties in accordance with the charter of the public association and may be expelled from the public association for failure to comply with its requirements.
3. The participants of a public association are natural persons who have expressed support for the goals of the association and (or) its specific actions and take part in its activities without formalising the terms of their participation, unless the charter provides otherwise.
Article 7. Legal forms of public associations
Public associations may be created in the following legal forms:
- public organisation;
- public movement;
- body of public initiative.
Article 8. Public organisation
1. A public organisation is a public association, as a rule membership-based, established for the joint activity of united citizens to protect common interests and achieve statutory goals.
2. The supreme governing body of a public organisation is the congress, conference or general meeting. The governing body of a public organisation is an elected collegial body accountable to the congress, conference or general meeting.
Article 9. Public movement
1. A public movement is a mass public association consisting of participants, without membership, pursuing social and other socially useful goals supported by the participants of the public movement.
2. The supreme governing body of a public movement is the congress, conference or general meeting. The governing body of a public movement is an elected collegial body of at least ten persons accountable to the congress, conference or general meeting.
3. Where a public movement is registered with the state, its governing body exercises the rights of a legal entity on behalf of the public movement and performs its duties in accordance with the charter.
Article 10. Body of public initiative
A body of public initiative is an informal public association without membership whose creation and activity are regulated by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 384 of 20.03.2008)
Article 11. Unions (associations, councils) of public associations
Public associations have the right to create unions (associations, councils) of public associations. Citizens, public associations, legal entities and state bodies have the right to join such unions (associations, councils).
Article 12. Territorial scope of the activity of public associations
1. International, republican and local public associations are created and operate in the Republic of Tajikistan.
2. An international public association is a public association whose activity extends to the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan and one or more foreign states and which has representative offices and branches in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan and one or more foreign states or intends to have such structures under its charter (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
3. A republican public association is a public association that may operate in accordance with its statutory goals throughout the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan and have branches and representative offices.
4. A local public association is a public association whose activity in accordance with its statutory goals is carried out within the administrative-territorial unit of a region, city or district.
5. Republican and international public associations may use the words “Republic of Tajikistan” and “Tajikistan” in their names without special permission from the competent state body and without paying any fees for this.
Article 13. Principles of the creation and activity of a public association
1. The activity of a public association is based on the principles of voluntariness, equality, self-government and legality. A public association is free to determine its internal structure, goals, forms and methods of activity.
2. The activity of a public association must be open, and information about its founding and programme documents must be publicly available.
3. The structure and activity of a public association must comply with democratic norms. The activity of a public association must not violate or restrict the rights and freedoms of the person and the citizen guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Article 14. Restrictions on the creation and activity of a public association
1. The creation and activity of public associations that propagate racial, nationalist, social or religious enmity or call for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and the organisation of armed groups are prohibited.
2. The creation and activity of a public association that encroaches on the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, on people’s health or on public morals are prohibited.
Article 15. The state and public associations
1. Interference by bodies of state power and their officials in the activity of public associations, as well as interference by public associations in the activity of bodies of state power and their officials, is prohibited.
2. The state ensures respect for the rights and legitimate interests of public associations and regulates by law the granting of tax and other benefits to them.
State support may take the form of targeted financing (state grants) of individual socially useful programmes of public associations at their request; the conclusion of various contracts, including for the performance of work and provision of services; and social orders for the implementation of various state programmes open to any public association on a competitive basis.
3. Matters affecting the interests of public associations are, in the cases provided for by law, decided by bodies of state power and administration with the participation of the relevant public associations or in agreement with them.
4. The legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan on labour and social insurance applies to hired employees of the staff of public associations.
Chapter 2. Creation of public associations
Article 16. Creation of a public association
1. A public association is created on the initiative of its founders – at least three natural persons.
Along with natural persons, legal entities – public associations – may also be founders of a public association.
2. Decisions to create a public association, approve its charter and form its governing and audit bodies are taken at a congress, conference, general or founding meeting. The public association is considered created from the moment these decisions are taken. Founders creating a public association as a legal entity must submit the founding documents for state registration to the registering body within one month of its creation.
3. A public association acquires the rights of a legal entity from the moment of state registration.
4. deleted (as amended by Law of the RT No. 384 of 20.03.2008)
Article 17. Requirements for founders, members and participants of public associations
1. Citizens who have reached the age of 18 may be founders, members and participants of public associations, unless otherwise established by this Law.
2. Foreign citizens and stateless persons, on an equal footing with citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan, may be founders, members and participants of public associations provided that their permanent place of residence is the Republic of Tajikistan or they hold a residence permit in the Republic of Tajikistan. Cases where these rights of foreign citizens and stateless persons are restricted are established by the laws of the Republic of Tajikistan and international legal acts recognised by Tajikistan.
3. Citizens who have reached the age of 14 may be members and participants of youth public associations.
4. Citizens who have reached the age of 8 may be members and participants of children’s public associations.
5. Only adult citizens permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan may be heads of public associations and members of their audit bodies.
6. The conditions and procedure for acquiring and losing membership, including leaving public associations on reaching a certain age, are determined by the charters of the relevant public associations.
7. Requiring an indication in official documents of membership of or participation in a particular public association is not allowed. Belonging to a public association may not serve as grounds for restricting citizens’ rights and freedoms or as a condition for the state to grant them any benefits or advantages.
8. The following may not be founders, members or participants of public associations:
- bodies of state power (except for the case provided for in Article 11 of this Law);
- legal entities (except for the cases provided for in Articles 6, 11 and 16 of this Law);
- persons whose connection with terrorist, extremist or separatist organisations has been established by a court.
9. When a public association is created in the form of a public organisation, its founders automatically become its members and acquire the corresponding rights and duties.
10. When public associations are created in other forms, the rights and duties of their founders are set out in their charters.
Article 18. Charter of a public association
1. The charter of a public association must provide for:
- the name and goals of the public association and its legal form;
- the structure of the public association, its governing and audit bodies and the territory in which the association operates;
- the conditions and procedure for acquiring and losing membership of the public association and the rights and duties of its members (only for membership-based associations);
- the competence and procedure for forming the governing bodies of the public association, their terms and powers, and the location of the permanent governing body;
- the procedure for amending the charter of the public association;
- the sources of the money and other property of the public association and the rights of the public association and its branches and representative offices to manage property;
- the procedure for reorganising and liquidating the public association.
2. The charter of a public association may contain a description of the organisation’s symbols.
3. The charter may also contain other provisions relating to the activity of the public association that do not contradict the law.
Article 19. Name and symbols of a public association
1. The name of a public association and its flag, emblem, pennants and other symbols, if any, must differ from the names and symbols of other legal entities, including those liquidated by court decision that have ceased their activity.
2. The symbols of a public association must not coincide with the state symbols of the Republic of Tajikistan or the symbols of foreign states and must not violate intellectual property rights. Use of the image of the state emblem on the seals and letterheads of public associations is not allowed.
3. The name and symbols of a public association may not serve to promote the goals and methods of action specified in Article 14 of this Law.
4. A public association has the right to use a citizen’s name in its title only with his or her consent; if the citizen has died – on the basis of his or her notarised will, and in the absence of a will – with the consent of the spouse, parents and adult children of the deceased. If there are no such persons, the association itself decides on the use of the citizen’s name in its title.
Article 20. Procedure for using the name of a public association
1. The official name of a public association must indicate its form and the territory in which it operates.
2. The name of a public association may not use the names of bodies of state power and state administration, of political parties operating in the Republic of Tajikistan, or of political parties that have ceased to exist as a result of liquidation by a court or self-liquidation.
Article 21. State registration of a public association
1. To acquire the rights of a legal entity, a public association is subject to state registration.
2. State registration of public associations is carried out by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan and the justice departments of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and the regions (hereinafter – the registering body).
3. State registration of international and republican public associations, as well as of local public associations operating in the city of Dushanbe and in cities and districts of republican subordination, is carried out by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
4. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan has the following powers in the state registration of public associations:
- carries out a legal review of the founding documents of republican public associations, local public associations located in the city of Dushanbe and cities and districts of republican subordination, and international public associations located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- carries out a legal review of the founding documents of representative offices and branches of republican public associations located in the city of Dushanbe and cities and districts of republican subordination, of international public associations of foreign states in the Republic of Tajikistan and of international public associations located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, and their record registration;
- issues certificates of state registration to republican public associations, local public associations located in the city of Dushanbe and cities and districts of republican subordination, international public associations of foreign states in the Republic of Tajikistan and international public associations located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- issues extracts from the Unified State Register of Public Associations and from the record registration of representative offices and branches of international public associations of foreign states in the Republic of Tajikistan and of international public associations located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- keeps the Unified State Register of Public Associations;
- keeps the record registration of representative offices and branches of public associations;
- determines the procedure for keeping the Unified State Register of Public Associations and for the record registration of representative offices and branches of public associations;
- exercises other powers provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan.
5. State registration of local public associations located in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and the regions is carried out by the justice departments of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and the regions.
6. The justice departments of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and the regions have the following powers in the state registration of public associations:
- carry out a legal review of the founding documents of public associations located in the region;
- carry out a legal review of the documents of representative offices and branches of republican public associations;
- issue certificates of state registration of public associations;
- issue extracts from the State Register of Public Associations and from the record registration of representative offices and branches of public associations (for the relevant territory);
- keep the State Register of Public Associations of the relevant territories;
- submit monthly to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan information on the state registration of public associations and the record registration of representative offices and branches;
- exercise other powers provided for by this Law (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
7. The following documents are submitted to the registering body for the state registration of a public association:
- an application signed by the members of the governing body of the public association, stating their surnames, first names, patronymics, places of residence and contact telephone numbers;
- the charter of the public association in two copies in the state language and, at the request of the public association, in two copies in the language of interethnic communication;
- an extract from the minutes of the congress, conference, general or founding meeting containing information on the creation of the public association, the approval of the charter and the formation of the governing and audit bodies;
- information about the founders of the public association: for natural persons – surname, first name, patronymic, year of birth, place of residence and citizenship (certified by their signature) and a copy of the passport or other identity document; for public associations forming a union (association, council) of public associations – a copy of the certificate of state registration of the charter of these associations, an extract from the minutes of the meeting of the governing body of the public association, the decision to create the union (association, council) of public associations and a copy of the founding agreement;
- an application from the persons specified in Article 19 of this Law consenting to the use of a citizen’s personal name in the name of the public association;
- where the public association uses symbols protected by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan on intellectual property or copyright – documents confirming the right to use them;
- a document confirming payment of the state fee;
- a document on the address (location) of the permanent governing body of the public association;
- for republican and international public associations – the minutes of the congresses, conferences, general or founding meetings of their structural units.
8. Amendments to the charter of a public association are subject to state registration in the same manner and within the same time limits as the state registration of the public association and acquire legal force from the moment of such registration.
9. A state fee is charged for the state registration of a public association and of amendments to its charter in the manner and amount established by the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On State Fees”.
10. State registration of a public association is carried out within one month of the submission of all the documents listed in this Article, and the public association is issued a certificate of state registration.
Article 21(1). Issuing a duplicate certificate of state registration of a public association
In the event of loss or other need, the registering body issues a duplicate certificate of state registration of a public association within 10 days on the application of the public association (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
Article 22. Record registration of representative offices and branches of a public association, refusal of record registration and their liquidation
(as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013)
1. Representative offices and branches of a public association, including international public associations of foreign states in the Republic of Tajikistan and international public associations located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, are subject to record registration (as amended by Laws of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010 and No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
2. Record registration of representative offices and branches of a public association is carried out by the registering body (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
3. The following documents are submitted for the record registration of representative offices or branches of a public association:
1) an application of the public association for the record registration of its representative office or branch;
2) copies of the founding documents of the public association creating the representative office or branch, certified by a state notary;
3) a decision of the public association:
a) on the creation of the representative office or branch;
b) on the approval of its Regulations;
c) on the appointment of the head of the representative office or branch;
4) the Regulations on the representative office or branch of the public association (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013);
5) a power of attorney issued to the head of the representative office or branch of the public association;
6) a document confirming the location of the representative office or branch of the public association;
7) a receipt or payment order for the payment of the state fee in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
4. Information about representative offices or branches of a public association is entered in the Unified State Register of Representative Offices and Branches of Public Associations (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
5. Record registration of a representative office or branch of a public association is carried out within 10 days of the submission of the documents specified in this Article, and the representative office or branch is issued an extract from the record registration of representative offices and branches of public associations (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
6. Changes to the documents of representative offices or branches of a public association are made in the manner and within the time limits provided for by this Article (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
7. Record registration of representative offices or branches of public associations, including representative offices and branches of international public associations of foreign states in the Republic of Tajikistan and of international public associations located in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, may be refused on the following grounds (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013):
- if the regulations of the representative office or branch of the public association contradict the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan, the provisions of Article 14 of this Law or other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- if the full list of documents required for record registration under this Law has not been submitted, or the information in the documents has not been drawn up in the established manner or has been submitted to the wrong body;
- if it is established that the founding documents submitted contain false information.
8. In the event of loss of the certificate of record registration of a representative office or branch of a public association or other need, the registering body issues a duplicate within 10 days on the basis of an application.
9. If record registration of a representative office or branch of a public association is refused, the applicants are notified in writing, stating the specific provisions of the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan whose violation led to the refusal.
10. Refusal of record registration of a representative office or branch of a public association, as well as evasion of such registration, may be appealed in court.
11. Refusal of record registration of a representative office or branch of a public association does not prevent the documents from being resubmitted for record registration once the grounds for the refusal have been eliminated.
12. A repeated application for record registration of a representative office or branch of a public association is considered in the manner provided for by this Law (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
Article 23. Refusal of state registration of a public association and the procedure for appealing it
1. State registration of a public association may be refused on the following grounds:
- if the charter of the public association contradicts the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan, the provisions of Articles 14, 17 and 18 of this Law or other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- if the full list of documents required for state registration under this Law has not been submitted, or the information in the documents has been drawn up improperly or submitted to the wrong body;
- if a previously registered public association with the same name is operating (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010);
- if it is established that the founding documents submitted contain false information;
- if the name of the public association offends morality or the national or religious feelings of citizens.
2. Refusal of state registration of a public association on the grounds that its creation is inexpedient is not allowed.
3. If state registration of a public association is refused, the applicants are notified in writing, stating the specific provisions of the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan whose violation led to the refusal of state registration of the organisation.
4. Refusal of state registration of a public association, as well as evasion of such registration, may be appealed in court.
5. Refusal of state registration of a public association does not prevent the documents from being resubmitted for state registration once the grounds for the refusal have been eliminated.
A repeated application for state registration of a public association is considered in the manner provided for by this Law.
Chapter 3. Rights and duties of a public association
Article 24. Rights of a public association
1. To achieve its statutory goals, a public association has the right to:
- freely disseminate information about its activity;
- take part in drafting decisions of state bodies in the manner and within the limits provided for by this Law and other laws;
- hold meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and other public events in the manner provided for by the laws of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, establish mass media and engage in publishing;
- represent and protect its rights and the legitimate interests of its members and participants and of other citizens before state bodies, organisations, public associations and courts;
- put forward initiatives on various issues of public life and submit proposals to state bodies;
- receive from state bodies the information necessary to carry out its statutory tasks, except in the cases established by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, carry out production and economic activity that contributes to its statutory goals and tasks, including through commercial organisations created for this purpose;
- take part in national and international competitions to obtain social orders, grants, scholarships and other advantages not prohibited by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan for its statutory activity;
- conclude agreements with natural and legal persons on scientific, technical, economic, financial and production cooperation and on the provision of services and performance of work aimed at achieving its statutory goals and tasks;
- accept material assistance in the form of property and money from natural and legal persons (as amended by Law of the RT No. 1210 of 08.08.2015);
- in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, carry out research and design work, conduct public reviews of socially significant projects and programmes and take part in joint commissions considering them, provided these activities are set out in its charter;
- exercise other powers provided for by law.
2. The exercise of these rights by public associations created by or with the participation of foreign citizens and stateless persons may be restricted by laws or international legal acts recognised by Tajikistan.
Article 25. Duties of a public association
A public association must:
- observe the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan, other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan, international legal acts recognised by Tajikistan and the rules set out in its charter;
- submit to the registering body every year by 1 April information on the continuation of its activity, in the form determined by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013);
- submit, at the request of the registering body, decisions of the governing bodies and officials of the public association and information about its activity;
- admit representatives of the registering body to public events held by the public association;
- assist representatives of the registering body in becoming acquainted with the activity of the public association in connection with achieving its statutory goals and complying with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan;
- publish annually on its website or the website of the registering body financial reports containing detailed information on income and expenditure;
- keep records of completed domestic and international transactions for at least five years after the end of the business relationship;
- keep and submit to the registering body identification data on the persons who control or manage the activity of the public association, including its founders and members of its governing and supervisory bodies (as amended by Law of the RT No. 1575 of 02.01.2019).
Chapter 4. Property of a public association
Article 26. Property of a public association
1. A public association that is a legal entity may own buildings, structures, facilities, housing, transport, equipment, supplies, cultural, educational and recreational property, money, shares, securities and other property necessary for the material support of its statutory activity.
A public association may also own institutions, publishing houses and mass media created or acquired with its own funds in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan and its charter.
2. The property of a public association is protected in accordance with the regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan.
3. The law may establish types of property that, for reasons of state and public security or in accordance with international legal acts recognised by Tajikistan, may not be owned by a public association.
Article 27. Sources of the property of a public association
1. The property of a public association is formed from entrance and membership fees, if provided for by the charter, voluntary contributions and donations, grants, receipts from lectures, exhibitions, lotteries, auctions, sports and other events held in accordance with the established procedure and the charter of the public association, income from entrepreneurial activity, and other activities of the public association not prohibited by law.
2. Voluntary and charitable contributions, grants and property received by public associations from foreign states, foreign legal entities, legal entities established with the participation of foreign persons, international organisations and international public movements, as well as through other natural and legal persons, are subject to registration by the registering bodies in the Register of Humanitarian Aid to Public Associations of the Republic of Tajikistan, the procedure for keeping which is determined by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. Projects financed by these persons are implemented by public associations after notifying the registering bodies. The form of notification is determined by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 1210 of 08.08.2015).
Article 28. Holders of property rights in a public organisation
1. A public organisation is the owner of all the property in the public organisation. No individual member of a public organisation has a property right to a share of the property belonging to the public organisation.
2. In public organisations whose representative offices and branches operate on the basis of their own regulations and the single charter of the organisation, the public organisation as a whole is the owner of the property (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
Article 29. Holders of property rights in a public movement
The rights of the owner of property received by a public movement, or created and (or) acquired by it with its own funds, are exercised on behalf of the public movement by its governing bodies.
Article 30.
deleted (as amended by Law of the RT No. 384 of 20.03.2008)
Article 31. Entrepreneurial activity of a public association
1. A public association carries out entrepreneurial activity in accordance with the Civil Code of the Republic of Tajikistan and other legislative acts of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2. In the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, a public association may create business partnerships, companies and other business organisations and acquire property intended for entrepreneurial activity.
3. Income from the entrepreneurial activity of a public association may not be redistributed among its members or participants and must be used only to achieve its statutory goals. A public association may use its funds for charitable purposes even if this is not stated in its charter.
Chapter 5. Reorganisation and liquidation of a public association
Article 32. Reorganisation of a public association
1. A public association is reorganised by decision of the congress, conference or general meeting. The decision-making procedure is determined by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan or the charter of the public association.
2. State registration of a public association created by reorganisation is carried out in the manner provided for by this Law.
3. After reorganisation, the property of a public association that is a legal entity passes to the newly created legal entities in the manner provided for by the Civil Code of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Article 33. Liquidation of a public association
1. A public association is liquidated by decision of the congress, conference or general meeting in accordance with its charter or by court decision in the manner provided for by this Law.
2. Property remaining after the liquidation of a public association, once the claims of creditors have been satisfied, is used for the purposes provided for by the charter of the public association. If the charter does not settle the disposal of the property of a liquidated public association, the decision is taken by the congress, conference or general meeting together with the decision to liquidate the public association, and in disputed cases by a court. The decision on the use of the remaining property is sent to the registering body.
3. deleted (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010)
Article 33(1). State registration of the liquidation of a public association
1. The congress, conference or general meeting of a public association that has decided to liquidate the public association must immediately inform the registering body of the decision (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
2. On receiving the decision to liquidate a public association, the registering body checks compliance with the liquidation rules and, based on the results, enters in the Unified State Register of Public Associations information that the public association is in the process of liquidation.
3. The following documents are submitted for the state registration of the liquidation of a public association (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013):
- an application;
- a copy of the decision to liquidate the public association;
- the originals of the founding documents and the certificate of state registration of the public association;
- a document from the tax authority confirming that the public association has no debts to the budget.
4. Within ten days of the completion of the liquidation process, the registering body must:
- check compliance with the liquidation procedure;
- enter information on the liquidation of the public association in the Unified State Register of Public Associations;
- issue an extract from the Unified State Register of Public Associations.
5. A public association and the representative offices or branches of public associations are considered liquidated from the moment the relevant data are entered in the Unified State Register of Public Associations (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
Chapter 6. Oversight of the activity of public associations
Article 34. Oversight of the activity of public associations
1. Supervision of the accurate and uniform application of laws by public associations is exercised by the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Tajikistan and the prosecutors subordinate to him.
2. The registering body oversees whether the activity of public associations complies with their statutory goals. The procedure for inspecting the statutory activity of public associations is approved by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 1210 of 08.08.2015).
The registering body has the right to:
- request, in accordance with Article 25 of this Law, administrative documents, decisions and information from the governing bodies of public associations;
- send its representatives to take part in public events held by public associations;
- if public associations are found to have violated the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan or to have acted contrary to their statutory goals, issue a written warning to the governing body of the association stating the specific grounds.
A written warning issued by the registering body must be considered by the public association within one month.
3. Tax authorities oversee the sources of income of public associations, the amounts of funds they receive and the payment of taxes in accordance with the Tax Code of the Republic of Tajikistan.
4. Supervision and control over compliance by a public association with the existing environmental, fire safety, epidemiological and other norms and standards are exercised by the authorised state bodies in accordance with the law.
5. In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Countering the Legalisation (Laundering) of Criminal Proceeds, the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”, the registering body must provide information to the authorised body for countering the legalisation (laundering) of criminal proceeds, the financing of terrorism and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction if there is a suspicion or sufficient grounds to suspect that a public association is a front for fundraising by a terrorist or extremist organisation, or is used as a channel for financing terrorism, extremism or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in order to evade asset-freezing measures, or to conceal or disguise the covert diversion of funds intended for lawful purposes to the benefit of terrorists and extremists or terrorist and extremist organisations (as amended by Law of the RT No. 1575 of 02.01.2019).
Article 35. Suspension of the activity of a public association
1. If a public association violates the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan or the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan or acts contrary to its statutory goals, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Tajikistan or the prosecutors subordinate to him issue a written order to the governing body of the association to eliminate the violations immediately, and a written warning to the registering body, and set a deadline for eliminating them.
2. If the violations that served as grounds for the written order or written warning are not eliminated within the set deadline, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Tajikistan or the prosecutors subordinate to him, or the registering body, have the right to apply to a court to suspend the activity of the public association.
In that case the court may suspend the activity of the public association for up to 3 months.
3. The activity of a public association may also be suspended in the manner and on the grounds provided for by other laws of the Republic of Tajikistan.
4. The procedure for suspending the activity of a public association in the event of a state of emergency in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan is determined by law.
Article 36. Consequences of the suspension of the activity of a public association
1. If the activity of a public association is suspended, its rights as a founder of mass media and the activity of the mass media it founded are suspended, and it is prohibited from organising and holding meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and other public events and from using bank deposits, except for settlements related to economic activity and employment contracts, compensation for damage caused by its actions and payment of taxes, fees and fines (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
2. If, before the end of the suspension period, the public association eliminates the violation that served as grounds for suspending its activity, the public association resumes its activity by decision of the court that suspended it.
Article 37. Grounds for the liquidation of a public association and the prohibition of its activity
1. The grounds for liquidating a public association and prohibiting its activity are:
- violation by the public association of the rights and freedoms of the person and the citizen;
- violation by the public association of the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan, constitutional laws, laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan, or systematic activity of the public association contrary to its statutory goals;
- failure of the public association to eliminate the actions that served as grounds for an order or written warning under Article 35 of this Law.
2. An application to a court to liquidate a public association on the grounds specified in this Article is filed by the registering body or the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Tajikistan or the prosecutors subordinate to him, regardless of whether the measures provided for by Article 35 of this Law have been taken.
3. Liquidation of a public association by court decision means a prohibition of its activity regardless of whether it has a state registration act and is also grounds for liquidating all legal entities it established, withdrawing from business companies and partnerships, or ending any participation in the activity of other legal entities. A liquidated public association may not be registered under another name (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
4. If the court does not grant the application to liquidate a public association or prohibit its activity, the association resumes its activity after the court decision enters into legal force.
5. The activity of a public association that is not a legal entity may be prohibited by court decision in the manner and on the grounds provided for by this Law for the liquidation of a public association that is a legal entity.
Chapter 7. International relations of public associations. International public associations
Article 38. International relations of public associations
1. Public associations of the Republic of Tajikistan may, in accordance with their charters, join international public organisations, acquire the rights and bear the duties corresponding to the status of these international public organisations, maintain direct international contacts and relations and conclude agreements with foreign public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations.
2. Public associations of the Republic of Tajikistan may create their own organisations, representative offices and branches in foreign states on the basis of international legal acts recognised by Tajikistan and the legislation of those states. Public associations that have created branches and representative offices in foreign states are recognised as international in accordance with Article 12 of this Law and must be re-registered in the manner established by this Law (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
Article 39. Activity of public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations of foreign states in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan
1. State registration of public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations of foreign states, or record registration of their representative offices and branches in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, is carried out by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
2. For the state registration of public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations of foreign states or the record registration of their representative offices and branches in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, in addition to the documents specified in Articles 21 and 22 of this Law, documents confirming the legal status of the foreign organisation, prepared, approved or issued by the competent authorities of the foreign state, are required (as amended by Law of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013).
3. The documents specified in part 2 of this Article must be legalised or apostilled in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, unless otherwise provided for by international legal acts recognised by Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 1242 of 23.11.2015).
4. Documents prepared in a foreign language and submitted to the justice authorities must be translated into the state language and the language of interethnic communication and notarised.
5. After the state registration of public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations of foreign states or the record registration of their representative offices and branches in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, their staff must be registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Laws of the RT No. 962 of 19.03.2013 and No. 1801 of 25.06.2021).
6. Public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations of foreign states or their branches and representative offices in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan operate in the Republic of Tajikistan in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Tajikistan.
7. The activity of public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations of foreign states or their branches and representative offices that have not undergone state or record registration in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan is prohibited.
8. The procedure and time limits for the record registration of representative offices and branches of public (non-profit and non-governmental) organisations of foreign states are determined by Article 22 of this Law and other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan (as amended by Law of the RT No. 621 of 21.07.2010).
Chapter 8. Final provisions
Article 40. Liability for violating this Law
Natural and legal persons are liable for violating this Law in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Article 41. Registration of public associations created before this Law entered into force
1. The provisions of this Law on state registration also apply to public associations created before this Law entered into force.
2. The charters of public associations created before this Law entered into force must be brought into line with this Law. Until then, the charters of public associations apply only to the extent that they do not contradict this Law.
3. State re-registration of public associations created before this Law entered into force must be carried out no later than 1 January 2008, free of state fees.
4. Public associations that have not been re-registered within the time limits set by this Article lose the rights of a legal entity, and their registration certificates are cancelled by decision of the registering body. This does not release them from the obligations they have assumed.
Article 42. Repeal of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Public Associations”
The Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Public Associations” of 21 May 1998 (Akhbori Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, 1998, No. 10, Art. 139) is hereby repealed.
Article 43. Entry into force of this Law
This Law shall enter into force after its official publication.
President of the Republic of Tajikistan E. Rakhmonov
Dushanbe, 12 May 2007, No. 258