The adoption of amendments to the Criminal Code took place on December 3, when the deputies of the Parliament of Tajikistan reviewed and approved the proposed changes. In particular, a new article 253(2) was added to the code, concerning "the illegal use of electricity for the production of virtual assets." This article consists of three parts, providing for significant fines and prison terms.
In the first part of the article, it is stated that illegal cryptocurrency mining is subject to a fine ranging from 200 to 500 calculated indicators (as of 2025, one indicator equals 75 somoni), which corresponds to an amount ranging from 15,000 to 37,500 somoni.
The second part of the article concerns groups of individuals acting in collusion. For them, a fine of 500 to 1000 indicators (from 37,500 to 75,000 somoni) or imprisonment for a term of 2 to 5 years is provided.
The third part of the article implies more serious consequences. For the use of electricity in "particularly large amounts" by an organized group, imprisonment for a term of 5 to 8 years may be imposed.
The Attorney General of Tajikistan, Habibullo Vohidzoda, presenting the bill, noted that the theft of electricity through mining farms in various regions of the country leads to problems with electricity supply and creates conditions for the commission of other crimes.
"The illegal circulation of virtual assets contributes to various crimes, including electricity theft and the laundering of criminal proceeds," Vohidzoda stated. He provided examples of cases of electricity theft, which resulted in electricity shortages in some regions.
The Attorney General also noted that he had previously expressed concern about the rise in crimes related to electricity theft and the illegal use of mining farms. According to him, the damage from the illegal use of electricity amounts to about 32 million somoni, and 4-5 criminal cases have been initiated regarding these facts.
Vohidzoda added that some individuals import equipment for mining farms from abroad and engage in illegal cryptocurrency production.
Parliament deputy Shukhrat Ganizoda commented on the changes in legislation, clarifying that miners connect devices that consume excessive amounts of energy to the power grid. For example, a typical ASIC miner can consume up to 3.5 kWh, while more powerful models require up to 5-6 kWh. According to the deputy, large farms use thousands of such devices, leading to attempts to circumvent the law and use electricity without accounting.
Furthermore, the aim of the amendments is to prevent violations in the tax sphere and ensure control over the activities of operators monitoring the turnover of goods.
The law will come into force after being signed by the president and published in official publications. It is worth noting that this year in Tajikistan, fines for the illegal use of electricity and evasion of payment have also been increased.
According to the current Criminal Code, violation of the rules for using electricity can result in a fine ranging from 27,000 to 90,000 somoni or imprisonment for a term of 3 to 10 years. The tightening of penalties occurs against the backdrop of annual restrictions on electricity supply during the autumn-winter period, which have become stricter this year, with the population receiving electricity for only 2 to 4 hours a day.
