Debbie Nevins - Tajikistan

F AR FROM ANY SHORE, DEEP IN ONE OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE mountain regions of the Eurasian landmass, the country of Tajikistan can seem from a Western point of viewalmost hidden. Its one of the five Stans that make up Central Asia, the vast expanse that lies east of Europe, between China, Russia, and India. Stan is a Persian word that means land of, and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are named for the ethnic peoples who live in them. (There are other Stans, some more familiar to Western consciousnessincluding Afghanistan and Pakistanbut strictly speaking, they are outside of Central Asia.)

Central Asia is a meeting point of Turkic, Persian, and Mongol cultures. This is reflected in the languages and the physical appearances of the people. Historians and archaeologists trace this regions roots to early civilizations going back about 3,000 years and claim that the early Tajik people contributed greatly to the Persian and Turkish empires. These people were famous for their fine handicrafts, and they serviced many trade caravans on the Silk Road that connected the East and West. Tajik writers produced fine poems and songs that became part of the classic literature of the Middle East and South Asia. Tajikistan is also known for its beautiful landscapes and is home to the worlds third-highest mountain system, the Pamirs.

Tajikistan, along with all the Central Asian states, also reflects the great Russian influence of its more recent domination by its massive neighbor to the north. In the late 19th century, the czarist Russian Empire expanded southward, taking what territories it wanted. In the early 20th century, that empire was violently replaced by another, the communist Soviet Union. Central Asia was forged into Soviet states. The Tajiks were forced to radically change their lifestyles. Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin drew new, somewhat arbitrary boundaries for administrative purposes. They corresponded neither to natural geographic features nor to the ethnic identities of the people living within them. Many Tajiks found themselves living in Afghanistan. Many Uzbeks were now a part of Tajikistan.

Tajikistan existed for around 70 years as a Soviet republic. It became in many ways an extension of Russia. The Tajik people learned to speak Russian, adopted Russian traditions, and learned to rely on the Communist central government in Moscow. All that fell apart as the Soviet Union finally collapsed, and Tajikistan emerged from the ashes as an independent entity in 1991.

Since that time, the Tajikistanis have struggled to keep their country united and to integrate it into the global economy. First, however, the country had to endure a bloody civil war from 1992 to 1997. The conflict began when various regional and religious groups did not agree with the newly formed government, which was dominated by people from the Khujand and Kulob regions. Anywhere from 20,000 to 100,000 people were killed in the hostilities, and 10 to 20 percent of the population was displaced. In 1992, the nations president, Rahmon Nabiyev, was ambushed by opposition forces and compelled to resign. He died soon afterward under mysterious circumstances, and Emomali Rahmon came to power. He remains in power to this day.

Tajikistan emerged from this war as the poorest of all the former Soviet republics. Since that time, the government has made some progress in fighting poverty, lowering the poverty rate from 66.8 percent in 2003 to 29 percent in 2017. This impressive improvement reflects well on the countrys leadership, but at the same time, there are increasing concerns about the long tenure of President Rahmon.

Rahmons regime has become more and more authoritarian as political opposition is harshly stomped out, and elections are viewed as fraudulent. He has created a new post for himself as Leader of the Nation, which frees him from constitutional term limits. In addition, he appears to be cementing his familys hold on the nation by paving the way for his son to succeed him.

Rahmon is criticized by some observers for spending billions on excessive building projects in the capital of Dushanbe. In 2010, the nation marked its 20th anniversary with what was hailed as the worlds tallest flagpole. The 541-foot (165 meter) flagpole, crowned with a 98-foot by 197-foot (30 m by 60 m) national flag, can be seen from nearly all parts of Dushanbe. The flagpoles claim as the worlds tallest was soon surpassed by one in Saudi Arabia, but the pole remains indicative of what some see as Rahmons excessive spending spree on grand new buildings and projects that the nation cannot afford. The largest of those projects is the construction of the Rogun Dam on the Vakhsh River, which is slated to be the worlds highest hydroelectric dam. This project allegedly threatens the water supply of neighboring Uzbekistan, which objects to its construction.

In the winter and spring of 2020, as the global COVID-19 pandemic was spreading rapidly across the globe, Tajikistan at first denied the presence of the illness within its borders. In March, the great public celebration of Nowruz went forward with no restrictions, and President Rahmon took part in large public gatherings. By May of that year, however, the virus was confirmed in all regions of the country, and mandatory face mask rules were put into effect. Since then, however, reliable figures relating to the pandemic have not been forthcoming, and reporters have complained of a virtual media blackout on the topic. The pandemic will certainly have a negative effect on Tajikistans already struggling economy, as it will worldwide. At this writing, the impact remains to be seen.