Tajikistan

Central Asia: 20 Years of Independence

 

As the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, the five Central Asian republics suddenly found themselves independent states, facing numerous challenges in creating a sense of nationhood and building separate economic structures. To mark the two decades since the five new states came into being, IWPR is publishing a series of articles highlighting the common challenges facing them, and some of the ways in which their paths have diverged over the years.

18 May 12
Prejudice against educated brides stems from fear they will rebel against traditional domestic roles.
Interview
13 Mar 12
Social networking site was among several blocked following article predicting president’s removal.
Nurali Davlatov, a political analyst in Tajikistan. (Photo courtesy of N. Davlatov)
Interview
9 Feb 12
At home, the government confines appointments to circle of insiders, while abroad the country has few real friends.
25 Oct 11
In remote northeastern district, Tajik men have taken to specifically Kyrgyz custom of “stealing” brides.
A wedding in Tajikistan. Foreigners wishing to marry local nationals now have to meet a number of legal requirements. (Photo: IWPR)
Screening of IWPR video on domestic violence. (Photo: IWPR) With the male population of working age abroad, women have replaced men in places like this brick-making factory in southern Tajikistan. (Photo: David Trilling)
The Tajik authorities do not want to see the Russian flag flying on their southern border with Afghanistan, as it did until 2005. (Photo: Safarbek Soliev/UNDP)
Nurali Davlatov, a political analyst in Tajikistan. (Photo courtesy of N. Davlatov) Vyacheslav Abramov. (Photo: Serikjan Kovlanbaev)
This cave was used as a hideout by Mullo Abdullo and his group. Police say they found a large stockpile of arms there. (Photo: Tajik interior ministry.) Ten mosques were shut down by the city authorities in the capital Dushanbe, on the grounds that they were operating unlawfully. (Photo: Veni Markovski) The land Tajikistan is handing over to China lies along the border in the remote Pamir plateau. (Photo: Dylan Winder/DFID)
Gulchehra Rahmanova, legal programmes manager at the Centre for Child Rights in Tajikistan. Andrei Grozin. (Photo: IWPR) The mountainous terrain of eastern Tajikistan allows locally-born militants to slip away from government troops. (Photo: Flickr/Irene2005)