Tajikistan has implemented mandatory registration requirements for International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of mobile devices imported into the country, with all devices needing to be registered within 30 days of entry since October 2023. The initiative is part of broader global efforts to combat mobile device theft and fraud through device registration systems.
The registration process is managed by Avesto Group through its subsidiary Net Solutions, which received exclusive rights to handle the system. Device owners must pay a fee of 50 somoni (approximately $4.50) per device for registration. The approach matches other national IMEI registration programs, though implementation methods vary significantly by country.
Between October 2023 and June 2024, over 525,000 mobile phones and tablets were processed through this system, generating registration fees of more than 26.3 million somoni ($2.4 million). During the same period, the Tajik government collected over $11 million in customs duties on these devices. The registration volume parallels similar programs in countries like Pakistan, where authorities actively track and block fraudulent IMEIs to prevent device-related crimes.
The registration requirement was initially ordered by the Tajik government in March 2020, with unregistered devices facing automatic suspension after 30 days. The process was originally handled by mobile phone service providers at no cost, but in February 2021, officials announced the transition to private management. The shift from carrier-based to centralized private management represents a notable departure from common international practices, where telecom operators typically maintain significant involvement in IMEI tracking.
Avesto Group’s involvement in the registration system has drawn attention due to its connections to Tajikistan’s political establishment. The company’s general director, Muhammad Mirzo, has familial ties to the country’s leadership through his brother Khurshed, who heads the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies and works closely with President Rahmon’s son.
Sharoffiddin Gadoev, who leads the Europe-based opposition Reform and Development Movement, has characterized the registration requirement as primarily revenue-focused rather than security-oriented. The criticism echoes similar concerns raised in other jurisdictions, such as Mexico’s controversial mobile user registry, where privacy advocates have challenged government mandates for device and user registration.
Sources: RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, Oxford Economics, UnlockUnit, UnlockUnit
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