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Tajik experts believe that the authorities, by requiring mandatory registration of IMEI codes, are trying to replenish the budget and strengthen control over citizens
In Tajikistan, a government decree on mandatory registration of IMEI codes of all cell phones and other mobile telecommunication devices was adopted back in 2020. On the website www.imei.tj created by the Communications and Customs Services under the Government of Tajikistan, it is noted that until April 30, 2023, entering IMEI codes of mobile devices into the State System was free of charge in automatic mode by connecting to the networks of mobile operators.
The report specifies that from May 1, 2023, the entry of IMEI codes is still “free of charge” through a single portal of the system operator www.imei.tj
The announcement also states that the government’s mobile telecommunication identification system has benefits such as:
– preventing the illegal importation of mobile devices;
– organizing a national database of IMEI codes of mobile telecommunication devices;
– protecting the right of owners by disabling lost or stolen mobile devices.
The introduction of the IMEI code registration system raises questions from users. A Tajik journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, said she first heard in a phone store that she had to pay for registration. The phone salesman there explained that to register an IMEI code, the gadget had to be “customs cleared” – that is, to pay customs duties and taxes on its own.
“I tried to find out in that store why the seller was selling “non-customized phones”. I was stupidly sent away, they said: if you don’t want it, don’t take it,” says the interviewee of CABAR.asia.
After that, the journalist went around at least ten different outlets, but nowhere had “un-cleared phones”.
“Then I decided to buy a phone and test how the system works. I never managed to register the IMEI code. Because customs still hasn’t determined the average cost of the phone model I bought. And the imei.tj website keeps showing an error,” said the interviewee.
After a request to the imei.tj call center for an IMEI code, the journalist received a text message stating that she had to enter the IMEI code of her device into the State System of Identification of Mobile Means of Electric Communication.
“Enter the IMEI code of your device into the State System within 30 days using the Unified Portal www.imei.tj. Otherwise, electric communication services will be terminated,” the message read.
However, despite the threats, the connection was not disconnected after 30 days.
The journalist also received a message from Dcity, Dushanbe City Bank, telling her to pay 1,436 somoni (about US $130) for customs clearance services.
These services included VAT – 117 USD, brokerage services – 50 TJS (about 5 USD) and customs duty – 10 USD.
At the same time, the cost of the purchased phone was only 1,250 somoni (about 120 dollars), which caused particular bewilderment to the interviewee.
“I then studied all the documentation – nowhere does it say that the buyer in Tajikistan has to pay taxes and customs duties,” she said.
According to her, earlier the imei.tj call center said that if a phone is registered in the customs database, registration of the IMEI code should be free of charge.
She claims that customs should not leave this issue at the discretion of sellers and buyers.
“Customs officers should prevent smuggling, not hang it on the buyer,” she said.
As reported by other Tajik citizens, they also received messages about the need to register codes.
According to the Customs Service, over 64,000 mobile devices were imported into Tajikistan in 2022, with the annual demand for cell phones estimated at about 500,000. This figure indicates that a large number of imported goods of this type are actually smuggled into Tajikistan.
The customs duty on the import of cell phones, tablets and other electronic means of communication is 15-20% of the value of the goods.
According to the rules, the importer must register the goods at customs, otherwise it is considered smuggled and residents should refrain from buying them. But today residents cannot find registered phones at cell phone outlets. The sellers ask them to register themselves by paying a fixed amount.
Khairiddini Hussain, one of the cell phone sellers at the Sadbarg Mall in Dushanbe, told CABAR.asia that his goods have passed the registration system. However, the prices of phones in his store are higher than in others.
Customs: either the seller or the buyer must register the code
Khurshed Karimzoda, head of the Customs Service of Tajikistan, said that registration of IMEI codes of phones and other mobile communication devices is mandatory.
“This action is carried out either by the importer or the buyer,” he stressed at an August 11 press conference.
According to him, when buying, the consumer should inquire whether the product is registered or not.
“From here, the cost of communication equipment is determined,” Karimzoda said.
According to Karimzoda, importers of communication devices are not obliged to enter IMEI codes into the State Identification System for Mobile Electronic Communication Devices until the moment of sale.
“When the code is registered, the user’s SIM card must be installed in the device. It does not matter who does it. The reason is that without this action, the user will not be able to use the purchased equipment. That is why the importer of the equipment does not have to register it when importing it,” Khurshed Karimzoda added.
Tajikistan’s customs authorities have detected 10 cases of illegal transfer of cell phones in the first six months of this year, on the basis of which administrative offenses were initiated.
The government is trying to fill the state budget by registering IMEI codes, Tajik lawyer Shokirjon Khakimov said.
In his opinion, when making such decisions, the factor of low solvency of the majority of the country’s citizens should be taken into account.
The Tajik lawyer believes that this step is primarily political in nature.
“The requirement of mandatory registration of all mobile devices is aimed at strengthening control over citizens,” Khakimov emphasized.
He believes that contradictions and conflicts of interest need to be resolved first by improving and amending the relevant regulatory documents.
In his opinion, imperfect legislation and the lack of subordinate clarifying acts give officials and businessmen the opportunity to “misinterpret” the issue.
“As a result, conditions are created for the growth of corrupt relations and other undesirable phenomena,” he told CABAR.asia.
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