Skip to main content

Eurasianet

Main Menu

  • Regions
  • Topics
  • Media
  • About
  • Search
  • Newsletter
  • русский
  • Support us
X

Caucasus

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia

Central Asia

Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Conflict Zones

Abkhazia
Nagorno Karabakh
South Ossetia

Eastern Europe

Belarus
Moldova
Russia
The Baltics
Ukraine

Eurasian Fringe

Afghanistan
China
EU
Iran
Mongolia
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
X

Environment

Economy

Politics

Kazakhstan's Bloody January 2022
Kyrgyzstan 2020 unrest

Security

Society

American diplomats in Central Asia
Arts and Culture
Coronavirus
Student spotlight
X

Visual Stories

Podcast
Video

Blogs

Tamada Tales
The Bug Pit

Podcasts

EurasiaChat
Expert Opinions
The Central Asianist
X
You can search using keywords to narrow down the list.
Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Uzbekistan wants to fine people for partying too hard

A lavish feast could incur penalties of up to $230.

Oct 25, 2019
The new rules stipulate that no more than 300 guests be in attendance and that no more than three cars be used in wedding motorcades. (David Trilling) The new rules stipulate that no more than 300 guests be in attendance and that no more than three cars be used in wedding motorcades. (David Trilling)

Uzbekistan’s Justice Ministry has proposed slapping fines of more than $230 on people found to have mounted excessively lavish festivities to mark important life events, such as weddings.

The suggestion is outlined in a draft bill that was published online on October 23 for public consultation. 

It is not just the organizers of the parties that will be deemed liable. Owners of reception halls and restaurants hosting the parties could face penalties of around $700, and then $1,200 for repeat offenses.

The purpose of the legislation is ostensibly to ease the barely affordable peer pressure felt by people preparing to hold family celebrations. Some young Uzbeks find themselves compelled to work abroad for months or even years just to cover the expense of a wedding feast.

It is unclear whether a fine in the low hundreds of dollars will prove a credible disincentive though, given that people spend multiples of that on wedding bands alone.

Regulations on celebrations were approved by parliament in September and will come into force on January 1, 2020. These rules stipulate that parties only take place between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., that only 300 guests be in attendance and that no more than three cars be used in wedding motorcades. There is no limit on how many people may attend a funeral. Mourning ceremonies, however, will be permitted to last no longer than three days. 

Similar legislation was adopted in Tajikistan in 2007. Violating rules limiting the scale of festivities can incur fines of up to $680 for regular citizens. Officials found to have permitted rule-breaking can be fined $1,500.

Sign up for Eurasianet's free weekly newsletter. Support Eurasianet: Help keep our journalism open to all, and influenced by none.

Related

Kazakhstan eyeing Baku grain entrepôt for Europe exports
Central Asia: Summiteers seal many deals, reveal scant details
New Kazakhstan, old methods: No respite for beleaguered opposition

Popular

Kazakhstan eyeing Baku grain entrepôt for Europe exports
Almaz Kumenov
Six months into blockade, Nagorno-Karabakh faces energy crisis as key reservoir dries up
Lilit Shahverdyan
Russia and Iran agree on new rail corridor via Azerbaijan
Joshua Kucera

Eurasianet

  • About
  • Team
  • Contribute
  • Republishing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact
Eurasianet © 2023