Prostitution Prostitution laws in TajikistanТоҷикистон
Tajikistan penalises the person who sells sex. Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of 20 to 30 calculation indicators, and a repeat within a year after a penalty carries 30 to 50 indicators or administrative arrest of 10 to 15 days (Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Organising or keeping a brothel, procuring for mercenary motives and pimping are crimes carrying a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 indicators or up to five years' imprisonment, and five to eight years if repeated or committed by an organised group (Article 239 of the Criminal Code). Drawing someone into prostitution by violence, threats, abuse of dependency, blackmail or deception carries a fine or up to two years (Article 238).
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence (Article 130 of the 2008 Code of Administrative Offences). A repeat within a year can lead to 10 to 15 days' administrative arrest. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Brothels, procuring for gain, pimping and drawing people into prostitution by coercion or deception are crimes (Articles 238-239 of the Criminal Code).[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of 20 to 30 calculation indicators. A repeat within one year after an administrative penalty is punishable by 30 to 50 indicators or administrative arrest of 10 to 15 days.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Code of Administrative Offences or the Criminal Code; Article 130 targets the person engaging in prostitution.[1][2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Organising or keeping a brothel for prostitution is punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 calculation indicators or up to five years' imprisonment, and five to eight years if repeated or committed by an organised group.[2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Procuring (сводничество) for mercenary motives and pimping carry the same penalty as brothel keeping. Drawing a person into prostitution by violence or threats, abuse of a dependent position, blackmail, destruction of property or deception carries a fine of 500 to 1,000 indicators, up to three years' restriction of liberty or up to two years' imprisonment, and two to five years if repeated or by an organised group.[2] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in either code. A third party who advertises a sex worker's services for gain risks liability for procuring or pimping, and the sex worker for engaging in prostitution.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of 20 to 30 calculation indicators. A repeat within one year after an administrative penalty is punishable by 30 to 50 indicators or administrative arrest of 10 to 15 days.[1]
Confidence: medium. Read in the Russian and Tajik consolidated texts hosted by WIPO Lex; the Tajik text, amended to February 2026, shows the same amounts after Law No. 2051 of 20 June 2024. The Ministry of Justice database (adlia.tj) could not be reached.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Code of Administrative Offences or the Criminal Code; Article 130 targets the person engaging in prostitution.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. Checked by searching the consolidated texts for references to prostitution.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Organising or keeping a brothel for prostitution is punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 calculation indicators or up to five years' imprisonment, and five to eight years if repeated or committed by an organised group.[2]
Confidence: medium. Read in the Russian consolidated text on WIPO Lex, which is labelled as amended to December 2025.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Procuring (сводничество) for mercenary motives and pimping carry the same penalty as brothel keeping. Drawing a person into prostitution by violence or threats, abuse of a dependent position, blackmail, destruction of property or deception carries a fine of 500 to 1,000 indicators, up to three years' restriction of liberty or up to two years' imprisonment, and two to five years if repeated or by an organised group.[2]
Confidence: medium.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in either code. A third party who advertises a sex worker's services for gain risks liability for procuring or pimping, and the sex worker for engaging in prostitution.[1][2]
Confidence: low. The Law on Advertising was not checked. Applying Article 239 to advertisements is an inference from its wording, not a reported case.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Кодекс Республики Таджикистан об административных правонарушениях / Кодекси ҳуқуқвайронкунии маъмурии Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон (amended up to Law No. 2238 of 16 February 2026) Code of Administrative Offences (2008, as amended) ст. 130 | Article 130 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence, with arrest for a repeat.[1] | |
| Уголовный кодекс Республики Таджикистан (amended up to Law No. 2206 of 17 December 2025) Criminal Code (1998, as amended) ст. 238 · ст. 239 | Drawing into prostitution (Art. 238); brothels, procuring and pimping (Art. 239).[2] |
Sources
- Кодекс Республики Таджикистан об административных правонарушениях / Кодекси ҳуқуқвайронкунии маъмурии Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон (amended up to Law No. 2238 of 16 February 2026) (Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Tajikistan). WIPO Lex (copy of the official text), 2008. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Уголовный кодекс Республики Таджикистан (amended up to Law No. 2206 of 17 December 2025) (Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan). WIPO Lex (copy of the official text), 1998. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026