Politics of Tajikistan: Difference between revisions

Politics of Tajikistan takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Tajikistan is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament.

Political developments

The Republic of Tajikistan gained its independence during the breakup of the Soviet Union on September 9 1991 and promptly fell into a civil war from 1992–1997 between old-guard regionally based ruling elites and disenfranchised regions, democratic liberal reformists, and Islamists loosely organized in a United Tajik Opposition (UTO). Other combatants and armed bands that flourished in this civil chaos simply reflected the breakdown of central authority rather than loyalty to a political faction. The height of hostilities occurred between 1992-93. By 1997, the predominantly Kulyabi-led Tajik Government and the UTO successfully negotiated a powersharing peace accord and implemented it by 2000.

Tajikistan is slowly rebuilding itself with an integrated government and continues to permit a Russian military presence to guard their border with Afghanistan and the basing of the Russian 201st Motorized Rifle Division that never left Tajikistan when it became independent. Most of these Russian-led forces, however, are local Tajik noncommissioned officers and soldiers.

Both Tajikistan's presidential and parliamentary elections, in 1999 and 2000, respectively, were widely considered to be flawed and unfair but peaceful. The inclusion of an overtly declared Islamic party committed to secular government (Islamic Rebirth Party) and several other parties in the Parliamentary elections represented an improvement in the Tajik people's right to choose their government. Tajikistan is the only Central Asian country in which a religiously affiliated political party is represented in Parliament. President Rahmonov, while no longer specifically obliged--as he was under the peace accords--to allocate one-third of government positions to the UTO, has kept some former UTO officials in senior cabinet-level positions. While the government and the now incorporated former opposition continue to distrust each other, they have often found a way to work with each other and are committed to peacefully resolving their differences.

Prior to the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, the civil war in Afghanistan produced cross-border effects that threatened to destabilize Tajikistan's fragile and hard-won peace. In the summers of 1999 and 2000, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan used Tajikistan as a staging ground for an insurgency campaign against the government of Uzbekistan. At the same time, Taliban advances in northern Afghanistan threatened to inundate Tajikistan with thousands of refugees. A constant flow of illegal narcotics continues to transit Tajikistan from Afghanistan on its way to Russian and European markets, leaving widespread violent crime, corruption, increased HIV incidence, and economic distortions in its wake. During 2002, stability in the country continued to increase, and the year was largely free of the assassinations and outbreaks of violence perpetrated by unreformed opposition members that plagued the country in previous years.

The government has been criticized for antisemitism. In 2006, the government began demolition of the last remaining synagogue in the country, which was functioning and serving the small Bukaharan Jewish community, as well as their ritual bath, kosher butcher, and classrooms, to make room for a new Presidential residence[1].

On August 6 2006, Tajik President Emomali Sharifovich Rahmonov began a state visit to India[2].

Executive branch

Main office-holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Emomali Rahmonov	HDKT	6 November 1994
Prime Minister	Ogil Oqilov	HDKT	20 January 1999

The president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term. The prime minister is appointed by the president. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly. Tajikistan held a constitutional referendum on 22 June 2003 that, among other things, set a term limit of two seven-year terms for the president.

Legislative branch

The Supreme Assembly (Majlisi Oli) has two chambers. The Assembly of Representatives (Majlisi Mamoyandogan) has 63 members, elected for a five year term in, 22 by proportional representation and 41 in single-seat constituencies. The National Assembly (Majlisi Milliy) has 33 members, 25 elected for a five year term bij local majlisi deputies and 8 appointed by the president.

Political parties and elections

For other political parties, see List of political parties in Tajikistan. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Tajikistan.

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

Administrative divisions

Tajikistan is divided into 2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor): Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* (Khorugh - formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa - formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand - formerly Leninabad)

note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

International organization participation

AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)