DUSHANBE, October 14, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have endorsed a draft law on adoption of a new criminal-procedural code of the country.

A regular sitting of the sixth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the third convocation, presided over by its speaker, Saydullo Khairulloyev, was held o October 14.

Presenting the bill, Minister of Justice Bakhtiyor Khudoyorov noted that the new criminal-procedural code provided for raising a role of judicial system in protecting constitutional rights of citizens. The minister stressed that “international conventions on human rights ratified by Tajikistan’s and the country’s Constitution “bind us to adopt this law.”

Under the new criminal-procedural code, warrants for house arrest, sequestration, bank account attachment and telephone tapping will be issued by courts.

Speaking at the meeting, MP Shodi Shabdolov said that the law was of crucial significance for the country and called on parliamentarians and media to take adequate measures to explain its essence to the public.

MP Yusufjon Ahmadov also underlined the significance of the law, noting that it was one the most important laws adopted by the parliament over the past ten years.

Parliamentarians unanimously approved the bill that will be sent for consideration to the upper house of the parliament.

We will recall that the current criminal-procedural code was adopted in 1961 already.  If the upper house of the parliament seconds the law, the new criminal-procedural code will come into effect on April 1, 2010.