International Development Law Organization

Tajikistan: A Step Towards Transparency

"The judiciary in Tajikistan should be open and clear as a mirror," Head of the country's Supreme Economic Court Naim Mansurzoda has said. "The EBRD/IDLO project will help us improve transparency." 

The comments came at a round table in Dushanbe, which saw the two organizations launch their joint Reform on Access to Judicial Decisions project. The roundtable discussion, moderated by Judge Mansurzoda, brought together the Tajik Council of Justice and representatives of the Judiciary, the government, and international organizations working on the rule of law in the country. All confirmed their commitment to the publication of judicial decisions by the Supreme Economic Court during the project's pilot period, with the practice to be subsequently expanded to regional economic courts.

The publication of judicial decisions is a critical reform measure in Central Asian countries, which have little tradition of transparency and accountability in their court systems. The lack of public information about rulings has historically favored corruption and contributed to a climate of mistrust in the judicial profession. Before launching the Tajik project, IDLO and the EBRD have successfully promoted e-justice solutions in neighboring Kyrgyzstan.