The People and Culture of Tajikistan

Tajikistan is a land of varied landscapes and climates, from the lush green valleys and meadows of central and southern Tajikistan to the snow-covered mountain slopes of the north. The country’s diversity is reflected in its people and culture, which have been influenced by multiple empires throughout history.

Tajiks are a family- and community-oriented people who practice Islam and share an extensive history of applied arts, including textiles, pottery, metal engraving, leather stamping, and calligraphy. They also maintain a variety of traditional religious practices and ceremonies.

Political System

The political system of Tajikistan is based on a presidential republic with executive and legislative powers vested in the President. The parliament, with limited competencies, acts as a rubber stamp for decisions made by the president. In practice, the parliament is dominated by loyal parties that do not challenge the regime but help it maintain a façade of democratic stability.

The constitution guarantees freedom of association, but the government severely restricts it in practice. Groups that are considered a threat to the state or are critical of the regime are systematically harassed and imprisoned. The government also stifles dissent in local communities, where administrators unscrupulously curtail the actions of citizen groups and organizations.

Independent media are largely suppressed, and the government uses state-owned TV channels to limit the presence of foreign content. The constitution guarantees the right of citizens to organize trade unions, but these are largely subservient to the authorities and not effective in promoting the rights of workers.

Despite the presence of a functioning multiparty system, the number of political parties has declined since 2000. The governing People’s Democratic Party (PDPT), which is overwhelmingly affiliated with the president, has a near monopoly of political space and has won most elections.

A few minor opposition parties continue to exist, but they are weak and unable to compete effectively in the electoral system. The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, which was the chief opposition party until 2015, has been banned and its leading members are in exile or prison.

The economic system continues to rely heavily on monopolies, which are led by the ruling elite. There is little competition in the economy; market-oriented reforms are largely lacking; and corruption and nontransparent practices persist. The government has resisted overtures from Russia to join the Eurasian Economic Union and is pursuing a conservative economic strategy.

There has been significant progress in poverty reduction, although disparities remain. The Gini (a measure of inequality) and GII (a measure of income distribution) indices are lower than they were in 2015. However, the country’s economic slowdown and COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected poverty reduction prospects.

Judiciary

The judiciary of Tajikistan is a state agency responsible for ensuring justice and protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. It is an important part of the politico-legal system and plays an active role in the development of society, consolidation of the democratic structure of the country and strengthening public order.

Judges are appointed for a ten-year term and have no restrictions on reappointment. They must be between 30 and 65 years old and have at least ten years of professional experience in the field of law.

A number of international organizations also play an important role in the development of the judiciary in Tajikistan. These include the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

One of the key aspects of the judicial system is the Constitution. It outlines the rights and freedoms of citizens, explains the principles of state power and establishes the relationship between the people and the State. It also identifies the main values of the country, which should be protected and developed.

As the judicial authority in Tajikistan, the Constitutional Court is responsible for determining the compliance of laws and other legal acts with the Constitution. Its actions are final which gives the Court a high position and makes the Court the authoritative organ of state and judicial power in the country.

Its work is conducted by judges and is carried out in a scientific-practical manner, using theoretical and practical knowledge of constitutional and legal sciences as well as the experience and practical knowledge of experts in constitutional law. The Court also carries out legal research, analyzes and prepares reports on various topics of its activity and participates in a number of international conferences and seminars.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Tajikistan has been working since its establishment in 1995 and has made an invaluable contribution to the development of the State, society, and the politico-legal system of the country. It is also an important contributor to democratization of the public life and the implementation of various constitutional reforms in the country.

Freedom of Speech

The constitution guarantees freedom of speech, but government interference in the media and harsh criminal libel laws restrict independent reporting. A few independent newspapers remain, but most of the national news channels are controlled by the government.

Authorities continue to censor social networking sites, using their power over internet access to suppress critical online content and expression. The government also limits peaceful assembly and association, through requirements to obtain permission from local governments and frequent inspections by various government agencies.

Citizens can be detained for up to six months for a single offense, such as “intentionally causing harm.” Public calls for terrorist activities are prohibited, and the government has also repressed opposition groups. Activists from banned Islamic groups often experience serious grievances and are unable to express their views freely.

A number of dissidents were arrested for political reasons in 2018, including Komil Khojanazarov, a member of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), who committed suicide after being tortured by security agencies in 2017. Human Rights Watch reported that the families of other dissidents were not given adequate legal assistance or adequate information about their detention.

Members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist group, were often targeted by authorities for their political activity. Many were detained or imprisoned on politically motivated charges of extremism, and dozens of individuals from the group have been placed on international wanted lists.

Women who wear the hijab, which covers the hair and ears, faced harassment from authorities for a variety of reasons, including by the State Committee on Women and Family Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Some female activists reportedly chose not to participate in protests because they feared reprisals from the government.

The country held parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020, but neither vote was free or fair. Despite the law that provides for universal suffrage, the president’s People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) dominated both houses of parliament.

The PDPT has tight control over the legislature and its members have little incentive to debate issues or hold officials accountable for their actions. The bicameral parliament, which is largely composed of former senior government executives, has limited competencies and votes in accordance with instructions from the executive.

Equality of Opportunity

Tajikistan’s constitution guarantees equal access to education, public office and employment for all citizens. Despite these legal and social protections, discrimination against ethnic minorities, mainly individuals from the Rasht and Vakhsh valleys, GBAO and Uzbekistan, continues to persist in government appointments and business opportunities.

Equality of opportunity is further undermined by widespread corruption and nepotism which systematically limits certain rights to those with better connections or wealth. Women, young people and ethnic minorities are frequently denied employment, educational and business opportunities.

The economy is increasingly reliant on remittances, but the decline of these flows in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated economic uncertainty and increased inflation. Moreover, the depreciation of the somoni against the dollar in recent years has led to higher prices of basic food staples.

Agricultural reforms have made some progress, especially in the cotton sector, where farmers are more empowered to negotiate sales prices. However, the continued use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is causing severe environmental damage. Other industries, such as aluminum smelters in Tursunzade and radioactive waste from the former enrichment plant in Chkalovsk, also contribute to air pollution.

As a result, health services are often inadequate and citizens face high levels of social exclusion. Local populations are increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change and the melting of glaciers, which increase flooding and erosion and erode community resilience.

Civil society is weak, fragmented and under state pressure, and is dependent on foreign donors for funding and support. Political opposition remains largely marginalized and targeted, with many activists imprisoned for a variety of reasons, including involvement in political protests or activities against the regime.

Human rights violations continue to be a serious concern, particularly in prisons where many political and human rights activists are detained without fair trial. Torture is a serious issue in detention.

Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution, but is restricted by censorship, harsh criminal libel laws and financial constraints. The government owns most television stations and controls broadcasting facilities, and few independent newspapers exist.

Despite the regime’s claims that it prioritizes democratic norms and institutions, it has little to show for its hard work in this regard. Its strategic goals – energy independence, containing the purported rise of radical Islam, freeing communications, ensuring food security and expanding employment – are still firmly anchored in the country’s political agenda. This serves to strengthen the executive over other institutions – a tendency accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The People and Culture of Tajikistan