Asia-Plus: Dushanbe police fined and jailed more than 160 fortune-tellers and magic practitioners last year

Asia-Plus, dated 10 January 2026, reports that Dushanbe police in 2025 fined and administratively detained more than 160 people for “practising sorcery, divination and fortune-telling.” The article states criminal cases were opened against 14 individuals on suspicion of repeat offences. According to the article, citing a 9 January announcement by the capital’s police, 163 cases of citizens engaged in fortune-telling were uncovered in total. Penalties ranging from fines to 15 days of administrative detention were imposed under Article 482 of the Administrative Offences Code. The article states the police did not disclose specific numbers of fined versus detained persons or the exact amounts. Against 14 individuals who repeated the offence, criminal cases were opened under Article 240-1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for fines up to 2 years of imprisonment; those cases were sent to court. The article notes that the positions of the accused and their views on the court proceedings are not known. The article recalls that in 2024 penalties for sorcery, divination and fortune-telling were toughened: parliament amended the Administrative Offences Code to set fines of 80–100 calculation indicators and administrative detention of 10–15 days (previously fines were 60–100 indicators). Amendments to Article 240 of the Criminal Code also established that repeat commission of such acts within a year after administrative penalty is punishable with fines of 1,500–2,000 indicators or 1–2 years of imprisonment. The article adds that after these changes, the Interior Ministry reported nearly 500 cases of sorcery, divination and fortune-telling uncovered nationwide in the first six months. The article states that henceforth clients of fortune-tellers will also be punished under Article 482-1 of the Administrative Offences Code, with fines of 3,900–4,680 somoni (50–60 indicators). Sources cited: Dushanbe police announcement of 9 January; Interior Ministry (ВКД) reports; parliamentary amendments to Administrative Offences Code and Criminal Code.