I rarely order a taxi, because I live in the center of the city, and my work is close to my home, so I go there on foot. However, I often use the «5-somoni taxis» [fixed-route private taxis charging low fee – Tr.], which are quite popular here in Dushanbe, because they are cheaper and it is more comfortable to use them than the bus. Once, in such a taxi, a most unpleasant case happened to me, which I still cannot forget. I got into a taxi; the driver was a young guy of about 25. I was the only passenger, but it did not seem strange to me until I noticed that he was not showing a «3» [number of the route – Tr.] sign and was driving at high speed. It made me uncomfortable, I took off my headphones and asked why did he not take other passengers, and why the hell was he driving so fast. He stopped, turned back, looked at me and said that he wanted to be alone with me, and did not want someone to interfere with us. I said nothing and tried to get out, but he blocked the doors. I looked at him and lied that I had my GPS turned on. I said that I would call my boyfriend now or I would beat him myself, because I can box. These words saved me. He opened the door, apologized and said he was joking. I felt depressed at that moment. After this case, I do not take the tinted and/or empty taxis.

It happened 3 years ago. After a lunch with a friend, I returned to the office. I caught a taxi on the street belonging to one of the popular taxi services. The driver asked to wait for him and went out to buy lemonade. He returned with a pack of sweets and a rather playful mood. He changed the route and took me to a completely different place. On the way, he turned off the navigator. He began offering me these sweets, pulled on my clothes. I calmly said that I would give him my wallet, phone, gold, which I wore, if he let me go. However, he did not calm down and bit me on the neck. At one point, he felt uncomfortable, and he went out to sit in the back seat near me. I left my jacket and bag in the car, took only the phone, and immediately ran out. He followed me. I ran into the first open gate I saw and called my husband. He found this taxi driver on the cameras near the cafe. I am a public person, and at that time I held a rather important post, I did not want publicity. Our society is like that: they would blame me saying I provoked him, and so on. The husband dealt with him like a man. The driver turned out to be a father of many children (10 children) and we forgave him, although everything could end differently. Instead of me, there could be younger girl that would get frustrated in this situation.

It happened in 2010, I was 17, studied in 11^th grade. Now, I am 28. It happened in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on the way from Karabolo to Diagnostic Center. I was waiting for the public transport after school, it was raining and there were about 20 people with me at the bus stop, waiting for the same transport. The «5-somoni taxi» drove up, a man was driving and another man sat in the front seat. Many people wanted to get into this car, but I was the first. As soon as I got in, the driver drove off, and the door was blocked. He started driving at high speed in the third lane. The men in front were very tense and spoke to each other in low tones. We turned in the wrong direction, and I called my mother to say that I took the public transport and was already going home. I said it in English and it saved me. As soon as they heard English, they started asking me where I am from and if I had a husband. I flipped the ring with the elephant on it on my ring finger and made the worst American accent in Russian.

I said that I was from abroad; my husband worked in the American embassy. They immediately relaxed, and we drove on our route. All the way, they asked who my husband was, what I did and why we had no children. I tried to smile and stay calm; I lied as if my life depended on it. They took me to my destination and did not take money, they asked for a number. I got rid of them by mentioning my imaginary husband, got out, and as soon as I went around the bend, I ran home as fast as I could. My heart was beating like a hammer, I was crying. After that, I did not feel safe anywhere. I was touched and harassed in public transport constantly. In a private taxi, I almost was kidnapped. It took many years for me to feel comfortable in my city again. Now, I always get into any taxi knowing that maybe today, I would fight for my life, and I am ready for this.

In 2017, a similar thing happened to me, only in mountain transport.

I was returning from a hike, in a transport to the city. The dude turned off the path, drove me back to the mountains; he wanted me to meet his friends. I said that if he did not stop the car, I would head his car and crash it to a mountain or into a river. He called me a whore and let me out))

I am from the city of Shakhrinav, but live in Dushanbe. I am 24, but experienced harassment in a taxi when I was 23.

I am from Shakhrinav; this city is a few minutes' drive from Dushanbe. I often go there to see my relatives, but I live with my parents in Dushanbe for several years already. Once again, when I was going to my grandfather to Shakhrinav in a taxi, I faced harassment not realizing that it was actually harassment. The taxi driver began to say some unwanted compliments about my looks, saying something like, «you are so beautiful, you have such beautiful lips». I was embarrassed and uncomfortable, but I tried to be modest so as not to be rude, because the man was older and stronger than I was; I was afraid for my safety. I tried to stop all these «compliments» with silence. My headphones saved me. I felt relieved when I got out of the taxi, it seemed that the lump in my throat had disappeared and it became easier for me to breathe. After this incident, I try not to ride in a taxi alone and carefully pay attention to a person I have to travel a certain route with.

I study and work in Dushanbe, but live in Vahdat, so when I return home late I usually take a taxi. Every time I certainly have a fear for my safety after the incident that happened to me last year.

Once, taking a taxi, I faced very unpleasant situation: the driver behaved inappropriately with me. At first, he tried to hit on me; I tried not to pay attention and kept silent. We arrived almost to the house, and the taxi driver began asking for my number. I did not answer again. Having arrived, he blocked the door and said that he would not let me out until I told him my number. I had no other chances, I had to give him my number; otherwise, I would not get home. He said all these words seriously; he was not opening the door. Realizing that he was stronger than I was, I could not do anything and no one could help me, I gave him my number. I could not lie, since he called me immediately and asked to show the incoming call. Then, he opened the door, and I ran out of the car as fast as I could, I wanted to get home as soon as possible. A couple of minutes later, he called, and I immediately blocked him. Thank God, I never saw him again. Now, I can fight for myself, but still, I do not feel completely safe in a taxi.

I live in Rudaki, but work in Dushanbe. I constantly face harassment in a taxi, almost always, almost every time. I come home quite late, and some taxi drivers think that I am a dancer, barmaid or even a prostitute, so I have many stories. It seems to me that I already developed an immunity for such cases: I know how to communicate with drivers, I no longer pay attention to flirting, I know different tricks of how I should answer, how to stand up for myself. However, once, an incident happened to me, for which I am still very much offended. Returning home, I got into a taxi, I was the only girl in a car. It was already late. On the way, a man got in a taxi; he was drunk and smelled of vodka. He sat down next to me, hit on me, made various compliments, touched my hand, tried to hug me. I was screaming all the way in a loud voice, but none of the people in a car was bothered at all; this made me offended even more. I felt bad that no one stood up for me: neither the driver, whom I paid to, and who, in fact, should have ensured my safety, nor the passengers, who should not have allowed this chaos. He came out of the casino, I could barely contain my anger and my tears, and I was disgusted and hurt that this happened to me. This incident affected me psychologically; it took me a long time to get into a taxi again without fear.

Once, I was riding with a taxi driver who considered me a prostitute and offered to have sex with him. Driving past a house, he said that he lived there, his wife and children were not at home and we could go inside to warm up, drink tea and quickly do our job. I was very angry, asking him if he was crazy to offer me this, he only replied, «Well, if you are not one of those, I am sorry, little sister». It was disgusting that this happened to me.

I recently moved to Dushanbe to study, and it was here that I experienced harassment in a taxi. In Panjakent, I did not face this, because our city is small, everyone knows each other, therefore, in general, there is little harassment there. In Dushanbe, I used the «5-somoni taxis» and repeatedly experienced harassment. For example, once, I was asked, «What do you eat to become such a beautiful girl?» I was embarrassed, but I never answer anything, because I do not want any aggression towards me. I saw cases when such people yelled at an indignant girl, shouted and cursed her.

I experienced harassment in a taxi on December 1, 2019, when I got into a taxi «#3» of white colour. The driver was young, most likely a student, as he looked young. I took it because I was terribly late. At some point, I felt strange that there was no one else in the car. We drove, but there were no passengers. At some point, he began asking me different questions; I got scared, because I was alone there, alone with him. I ignored all his questions, but this did not bother him in any way. He continued to ask further questions and talk about himself. Then, I asked to stop. He did not take money from me and asked my number. I just closed the door indignantly and left. It was very scary, especially one last thing he said, «Give me your number, or I will kidnap you». This incident affected me; I no longer use such «5-somoni taxis»: this was the first and the last time. I order a taxi from a taxi service, but even there, I do not always feel safe.

I study and live in Pamir. Khorugh is a small city; everyone knows each other, knows who your parents are. I think this is the reason why I did not face harassment there. However, I faced harassment in Dushanbe, when I caught a taxi on the road, and more than once. I mostly get some kind of «friendly compliments» in such a style: «Oh, you are so beautiful, you have beautiful eyes, lips, etc.» At such moments, I feel very embarrassed. Earlier, I was silent, I tried not to be rude, but at some point, I realized that I was actually paying money for getting from one point to another and I should be comfortable riding and after that, I try to fight back, not to be silent. I usually answer with a raised voice, sometimes even rude, so that the person would stop and take me to the destination. In general, I try not to get into a taxi at night, because I am very afraid for my safety.

This incident happened in Korvon, around lunchtime, when she was going home. She ordered a 3333 taxi. When the taxi came, the driver told her to sit in the front seat; she thought it was strange. However, she was in a great hurry and did not attach much importance to it. The driver was young. At the beginning, he was silent. Then, he began looking at her for a long time and started making compliments about her appearance. She smiled silently, and he began touching her cheeks, her hands. He asked who she was, what she did and where she studied. After that, she asked him to stop a taxi, but he said that he would no longer bother her. After a while, he again harassed her by touching. She was already furious, and in a raised tone demanded to stop the taxi. Thank God, he stopped, and she managed to escape quickly.

I had multiple experiences of harassment in a taxi. However, I remember one story more clearly. I take a «5-somoni taxi» to go to the university. Once, I took a taxi, four more people were sitting next to me, a little later they got off, and I remained alone. The driver suddenly started asking me where I studied, how old I was, what I did, what I liked. I did not give him a reason to flirt with me; I was busy with my own business. Suddenly, he began making compliments, telling that I was beautiful. Then, he asked if I was dating someone and began telling how cool he was. I do not like talking to strangers or answering their questions, so I ignored him and waited until I got to the university. I felt very bad in a taxi, I felt relieved only when I got out.

It was cold outside. I stood near Safina TV building and waited for transport. It was almost 8 PM and I was still not home. I panicked that my mother would be upset because I was late. The taxi #25 arrived; it goes along my route. I thought, screw these 5 somoni, I am going home. I got in. The driver asked questions about me, I thought that maybe, he was a sociable person. However, I did not answer honestly. He asked my name, how old I was, where I was from, where I studied, what I did. I tried to avoid his questions about my home and said only that I was «from here». A couple of minutes passed, he said, «Who was the guy standing next to you when you took a taxi?» I said that this was my friend. He started asking what kind of relationship we had. I kept saying that we were just friends. He said, «I think that he is your boyfriend», and asked even more questions about me. He looked at me from the rear view mirror and said that I was beautiful. He asked my phone number, I said, «I do not have a phone». I panicked, asked to stop the car and got out, and he said suspiciously, «See you soon».

I study and work in Dushanbe. I repeatedly encountered harassment in a taxi in Dushanbe. Every time, catching a taxi on the street, I face some kind of pick up attempts, compliments like «I am dying from you beauty, baby», and very often they ask my number. I usually do not answer and wait until I get to my destination. It seems to me that ignoring in such cases is the only right decision. One incident that happened to me last year negatively affected me. Once, a young guy of about 25, the passenger in a taxi, began harassing me. I was the only girl in the car, and no one stood up for me, on the contrary, other guys tried to motivate him to continue picking me up, saying all sorts of nonsense about me playing hard-to-get, and so on. I felt bad, only the music that I turned on calmed me. After this incident, I no longer get into a taxi if there are only men inside.

The harassment in a taxi happened to me on July 26, 2020. I took a «5-somoni taxi» from Mayakovsky to Sadbarg. The driver was young; he asked if I was Russian, I said that I was. After that, he asked me a lot about my nationality and my origins, I answered as if it depended on it whether I would get to my destination. At some point, I was greatly alarmed by the fact that I was alone in the taxi, and I got scared, so I improvised that my boyfriend allegedly called me and started talking to him, «Are you already waiting for me, darling? I am going in a taxi and soon will be there». This did not stop him; he began hitting on me, asking my number and whether I lived near Sadbarg. I said that I came to my aunt. It was very weird. After that, I no longer get into a taxi alone, or avoid the empty taxis.

Most often, I witness harassment, rather than experience it myself, because I am already an adult woman, and I notice that young girls are most vulnerable to this. I am more scared for my daughters than for myself.

Nevertheless, I experienced harassment in a taxi. It happened to me about two years ago, when I took a «5-somoni taxi» from the Dom Pechati to the Central Department Store. I was going to work, and did not notice that there was no one in the taxi. It did not seem strange to me then, because it was early in the morning. A man in his forties began a conversation with me, asking how old I was, if I had a husband or children. He began to brag about himself. I paid absolutely no attention to all his words, but I was uncomfortable. After compliments about my legs, I could not stand it anymore and shamed him for his behaviour, saying that I had a husband who works in the Prosecutor's Office. He got scared, apologized and took me to the destination. After this incident, I am wary of my daughters' safety and always recommend them not to stay late until late, not get into empty taxis, and ride with someone.

Very often, I become either a witness or a victim of harassment in public transport, but I never thought that I would witness harassment in a taxi. Once, we caught a taxi on the street with my friend, and there, I faced harassment. We were returning from school and chatting all the way; she got out, and the rest of the way I was alone with the driver. The driver began a conversation with me, asked if I studied in school #8, in which grade I studied. At the beginning, I was friendly and answered his questions, but suddenly, I noticed that he was trying to pick me up, made various ambiguous comments and all sorts of compliments about how beautiful I was, what long hair I had and what a beautiful bride I could become. He asked for my number; told me that he wanted to marry and was looking for a wife, and that he really liked me. I did not answer and put the headphones on. He stopped the car and pulled a headphone off my left ear. I looked at him angrily, shamed him, and said that it could be his little sister instead of me. He turned around and said that he was just kidding, that it was all not serious. When he drove closer to my house, I ran out of the taxi, and calmed myself thinking that everything was over. I turned around and noticed that this guy did not leave; he was driving behind me. I got scared and changed my route going faster between houses. After this incident, I no longer take a taxi alone, and try to walk more.

I often order a taxi, and often receive some compliments, praise and admiration. I do not pay attention to all this anymore. I already know how to talk to a certain driver; I can find an approach to everyone so that he stops talking. They often ask me for my number and if I have a boyfriend. However, once, I met a crazy taxi driver who scared me very much. I ignored everything he told me. He asked, «Would you give me your number, darling?» I answered, «Not in this life»; he began driving at high speed, muttering something. I almost cried begging him to stop. Thank God, he stopped and I got out, slamming the car door. I felt like I survived death. After that, I could not get into a taxi for a very long time, but fortunately, I already overcame this fear.

After having a walk with my friends, I went to my sister's place to the other part of the city. We have unofficial fixed-route taxis in the city, which is taken by several people. While we were driving, no one caught the car. The driver made unwanted compliments all the way, and when I was about to get out, he blocked the door and did not let me go. He said that he fell in love, wants to marry, and insistently asked for a phone number. I started calling my older brother; he opened the door. It was blocked for about three minutes, but that was enough for me not to take such taxis anymore.

It was summer. My friend and I took taxi #3 to get to Ayni Park. The driver was a young man in his twenties, with a bushy beard. In the front seat next to him was another guy of about the same age (as it turned out later, it was his friend). He drove at high speed, so we immediately got worried, but for some reason, did not ask to go slower or stop. Maybe, we were just shocked at that moment. Upon reaching our destination, we asked to stop, paid, but when we wanted to leave, we noticed that he blocked the doors. We asked to open the doors, and they asked for my phone number. They said that if I gave him my number, he would let us go. After much persuasion and pleading, we finally gave up and I told him my number, after which we got out of the car and ran. Then, for a while, someone called me from the unknown numbers, but I cannot say for sure that it was that taxi driver, because I never answered. I was afraid it might be him. We did not address anyone and did not even remember his license plate number. Then, we thought only about leaving and escaping.

2 years have passed, but I am still afraid to get into a private taxi. Even if I do, I call and inform one of my relatives about it, and always try to sit behind the driver. I do not know why, I feel at least a little safe by doing so.

I ordered a taxi to go to Auchan; my friend and I wanted to go to the movies there. The taxi driver was silent at first, then, he began asking who I was going to meet and where. Then, he asked if I had a boyfriend. I said that I would not like to answer that. He asked for my phone number, I said that I would soon change my SIM card, because my number was not working. I felt very embarrassed and asked to stop the car. Perhaps, someone had worse situations, but it felt very uncomfortable for me. I just wanted to get to Auchan, and not to answer the personal questions of a 40-year-old stranger.

It felt very unpleasant. Even now, I am afraid to order a taxi knowing that this could happen. I want to add what my teacher told me. His student was late for class because the taxi driver blocked the car door and asked for her phone number. He let her go only when she cried and asked him to let her go. My teacher always told me to be careful with this.

A taxi. He blocked the doors and started asking for a number, said that he would not let me go. In order to avoid his aggression after long negotiations, I gave him a number that did not work, so it ended well.

There are the «5-somoni taxis» in Dushanbe. In one of such taxis, I was going from work in the evening. A man of 50-60 years old was sitting next to me. During the trip, he touched my leg, squeezed, and stroked it, at first by accident, and more persistently later. When I got angry, he pretended to be surprised, and the driver accused me of slandering an adult.

Recently, I left Sadbarg shopping center and waited for a taxi on the street. A car drove up, the driver showed a plate with the number 3, and I caught this taxi. When I got into the taxi, there was another guy in the front seat. This guy got off after a few stops, and I was left alone with the taxi driver. At first, everything was fine, but after a couple of minutes later, the taxi driver (30-35 years old) turned around and looked at me with a smile. He started asking personal questions about how old I was, what grade I studied in and where I lived. I thought he was just sociable and answered some questions. Then, he asked for my phone number and offered to meet again. I was very scared and refused to give him my number, but he asked why I did not want to meet him and if I had a boyfriend. After that, for another 5 minutes, he promised to be my knight, solve all my problems and protect me. I asked to stop the car to get off, but he continued to drive at high speed. Thank God, a traffic light turned red and a huge traffic jam formed near the traffic light. I immediately opened the door and left.

I experienced harassment in a taxi this summer.

One weekday, after extra classes, I caught a taxi to return home. I told the destination, put on the headphones while browsing social media. From the very beginning, the driver drove fast, but after a couple of minutes, he slowed down a lot, taking an unfamiliar for me turn. He took me to a deserted place, ignoring my words to slow down and blocking the door. He stopped the car and began to move to my back seat. I tried to hit him, to push him away, but he pulled me closer, held my hands, and tried to close my mouth. A few seconds later, another car approached and honked; it distracted him. I reached the door unlock button and ran out. This car helped me; it blocked the exit and when that driver saw me, he went to the taxi driver who followed me. I ran to the nearest store and asked where I was and how to get to my destination. It turned out I was 10 minutes away from my street.

I did not leave the house for the next week. For another week, a friend drove me (he knew me from childhood) to the work, and after that, I began riding with a driver, and still ride only with him.

For the first time, I was harassed in a taxi two years ago. I got into a «5-somoni taxi»; the taxi driver harassed me, and his friend supported him. He gave me compliments, which made me feel unpleasant, disgusting and awkward. I asked him to stop several times, but he was driving at fast speed. He and his friend said that they would take me to a «cool» place and I would really like to spend time with them there. My knees were shaking from fear; I almost cried thinking that they could take me to a bad place and no one would help me. I screamed and asked to stop the car, but they just laughed. I was saved when the driver hit another car at the high speed, almost crashed, and had to get out of the car to talk to another driver. At that moment, I managed to run out of the car and escape. So much time has passed, but I still cannot get into «5-somoni taxi», I do not use them anymore. I order a taxi all the time. I would rather overpay, but be sure that they would not try to kidnap me. I felt very bad after that incident, and I do not want to endure this stress again. For a long time, I blamed myself for what happened to me, because I was in a short skirt that day, I blamed myself, because I thought that I provoked them to do this. Now, I already understand that this was not my fault, and that clothes cannot induce anyone to do something to a person.

I smoke cigarettes, so when I order a taxi, I ask to send me a taxi where I can smoke. Usually, taxi drivers tell me, «You are a girl; you still have to bear children; stop smoking». Some drivers are trying to start a conversation, and very often, I hear different compliments about my appearance. Oh, once, there was even a case when I smoked, and the taxi driver flirted with me. I did not talk to him, and he offered me to smoke marijuana, he actually pulled out weed in the car and offered to stop and smoke with him. It was the driver from Rakhsh Taxi Company. I was shocked and asked him to keep driving. I did not talk to him anymore; he drove and no longer tried to start a conversation with me.