Updated December 1, 2017
Tajikistan
Human Rights. In its 2016 Human Rights Report, the State

Department describes Tajikistan as an “authoritarian state”
with significant human rights problems. The report cites
media censorship, religious intolerance, and the persecution
of political opponents as issues of particular concern.
Activists and human rights groups such as Amnesty
International and Freedom House claim that the Tajik
government violates its human rights obligations and
commits “egregious” acts of torture and ill-treatment. In
February 2016, Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian
Helsinki Committee called on the United States and the
E.U. to speak out against Tajikistan’s deteriorating human
rights situation. The Tajik government, however, continues
to use its powers to crack down on its political opponents,

Source: Map by Hannah Fischer, CRS.
and recent Constitutional amendments give the state even
greater authority to persecute dissidents. In June 2016, two
Political Background
IRPT leaders, Mahmadali Hayit and Saidumar Khusaini,
were sentenced to life in prison, and in November 2016,
Government. Tajikistan is a presidential republic. The
insulting President Rahmon was made a criminal offense.
executive branch wields significant influence over the
legislative and judicial branches. Officially, the president is
limited to two seven-year terms in office; however,
Tajikistan at a Glance
President Emomali Rahmon has been reelected four times,
Land area: 139,960 sq. km. (about the size of North Carolina)
most recently in 2013 with 84% of the vote. The
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Geography: Heavily mountainous, with abundant water
(OSCE) reported “significant shortcomings” and noted a
resources and upstream control of two of Central Asia’s key
lack of pluralism in the 2013 presidential and 2015
river systems
parliamentary elections. The government’s actions toward
Population (2016): 8.73 mil ion
the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), the
country’s leading opposition party, are a source of
GDP (2016): $6.95 bil ion, per capita GNI is $3,500 at PPP
international criticism. In late 2015, the Supreme Court of
Ethnicities (2010): 84% Tajik, 14% Uzbek, other 2%
Tajikistan banned the party and prohibited its media
activities in the country. Tajikistan’s government has
Religions (2003): Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other
described these actions as an attempt to eliminate
10%
extremism and terrorism in the country. The U.S. State
Political Leaders: President Emomali RAHMON (head of state
Department, on the other hand, has characterized the
government’s crackdown as “
since 1992), Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since
steps to eliminate political
November 2013)
opposition.” In May 2016, Tajikistan adopted 41
constitutional amendments by referendum. Many of the
Data from World Bank
amendments broadened President Rahmon’s powers and,
according to some observers, further consolidated his
Economy
control over the state.
Key Sectors. Tajikistan is a poor, mountainous country
with an economy dependent on metal and raw mineral
History. The Tajiks are a Central Asian people who speak
exports and remittances from migrant workers. Tajikistan’s
several Persian dialects. Historically, Tajiks have lived in
main natural resources include gold, silver, coal, and
an area spanning from Iran to western China. Tajikistan was
hydropower. Its coal deposits, if fully exploited, could
ruled by Tsarist Russia and then the Soviet Union until the
reportedly satisfy domestic energy needs. In its 2017
U.S.S.R. collapsed in early 1990. In 1992, a civil war broke
economic report, The World Bank argued that Tajikistan
out in Tajikistan pitting a loose coalition of nationalist,
must prioritize job creation in order to achieve its
Islamic, and democratic groups against the central
developmental objectives and reduce poverty.
government, which was backed by Russia and Uzbekistan.
Under a U.N.-brokered peace deal, the government retained
Hydropower. Tajikistan produces a small fraction of the
control and hostilities ceased in 1997. Tajikistan remains a
natural gas and oil produced by its hydrocarbon-rich
close Russian ally, and it receives Russian military and
neighbors Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. However, with
counternarcotics assistance.
1,300 freshwater lakes and 28,500 kilometers of rivers,
Tajikistan is positioned to become a regional leader in
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Tajikistan
hydropower. The government has sought to develop its
antiterrorism training exercise with their Tajik counterparts.
substantial hydroelectricity potential, mainly by pursuing
Prior to U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, the Tajik
the Rogun dam project. If completed, Rogun would be the
government supported the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.
tallest hydropower plant in the world and has the potential
In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the
to generate enough power to end Tajikistan’s electricity
Rahmon government allowed the United States to use the
rationing and turn the country into a net energy exporter. In
refueling services at Dushanbe Airport and to pass through
2016, Tajikistan contracted with Italian firm Salini
the country’s airspace.
Impregilo to construct the dam over a 13-year period for
$3.9 billion, and construction began in October 2016. The
Drug Trafficking. Tajikistan is a major thoroughfare for
Rogun dam is a sensitive issue for its downstream
illicit drug trafficking. It has been estimated that more than
neighbors. Uzbekistan, in particular, is worried about the
80% of Afghanistan’s heroin exports to Russia and Europe
dam reducing its water supplies for cotton irrigation.
pass through the country. The United States provides
Uzbekistan also is concerned about the dam’s potential
assistance, such as training and equipment, to enhance the
environmental impact and seismically active location. The
country’s counternarcotics efforts; however, there is no
World Bank’s 2014 feasibility studies appeared to give
extradition treaty or formal mutual legal assistance
Tajikistan the green light to build Rogun, saying the dam
agreement between the United States and Tajikistan. In the
could help to eliminate the country’s winter energy
past five years, overall drug seizures, particularly of
shortages. However, Human Rights Watch reports the
opiates, have been declining. According to the State
government is so far not living up to its commitments to
Department, there is no adequate explanation for the drop,
provide sufficient compensation to the 42,000 people being
but some reports have indicated that Tajik government
resettled by Rogun.
officials are connected with drug traffickers.
Trade. In recent years, China has emerged as one of
Terrorism and Violent Extremism. About 1,000 Tajiks
Tajikistan’s most important trading partners. According to
have joined the Islamic State, along with other terrorist
the Rahmon government, trade between Tajikistan and
groups in Syria and Iraq, and Tajikistan’s government is
China reached more than $200 million in the first three
concerned about keeping track of returning fighters. The
months of 2016, and “could be increased to $3 billion [per
government also is worried about instability in Afghanistan
year] by 2020.” In 2015, Chinese foreign direct investment
spreading to its own territory. In 2015, Colonel Gulmurod
in Tajikistan totaled $273 million, representing an increase
Khalimov, who was a U.S.-trained commander of a special
of 160% over 2014 and 58% of country’s foreign direct
Tajik police unit, joined IS. He reportedly was killed in
investment. China’s growing importance can be attributed
Mosul. In 2016, Tajik officials participated in several
to a retrenchment of Tajikistan’s traditional partners, such
OSCE-organized workshops focusing on countering violent
as Russia, whose direct investment dropped to a total of $35
extremism (CVE), and the Tajik government developed a
million in 2015 (a 22.6% drop since 2010). Russia,
national CVE strategy. Yet, some civil society groups
however, continues to play an important role in Tajikistan’s
criticized the strategy. According to them, it likely will be
economy, and a large portion of Tajikistan’s GDP comes
used as a pretext to further repress political dissidents.
from personal remittances from migrant workers living in
Between 1992 and 1997, the Islamic Movement of
Russia (see Figure 1). Also, according to a 2016 Russian
Uzbekistan (IMU)—which aims to establish a caliphate in
Central Bank announcement, the total amount of money
the Fergana Valley region of Central Asia—used eastern
transferred to Tajikistan in 2015 fell by almost 67%, from
Tajikistan as a base of operations to launch attacks into
$3.8 billion in 2014 to $1.28 billion in 2015.
neighboring Uzbekistan. In the early 2000s, the IMU
established a new base in Pakistan where it reportedly
Figure 1. Personal Remittances from Russia to
cooperates with other terrorist groups, such as the Haqqani
Tajikistan (USD, millions)
network.
U.S. Foreign Assistance. The FY2018 U.S. foreign
operations assistance request for Tajikistan is $22 million,
down from $36.1 million in FY2016 (actual). The majority
of funds requested for FY2018 are provided through the
Economic Support and Development Fund account ($13
million). Assistance is also provided through several other
accounts, including Global Health Programs—USAID
($4.3 million), International Military Education and
Training ($450,000), International Narcotics Control and
Law Enforcement ($2 million), and Nonproliferation,

Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs ($2.3
Source: Central Bank of Russia.
million).
U.S.-Tajikistan Relations
Edward Y. Gracia, Research Assistant
Security Cooperation and Afghanistan. The U.S. State
Wil Mackey, Research Assistant
Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and
Jennifer M. Roscoe, Research Assistant
Central Command (CENTCOM) provide material support
and training to Tajik security forces. Between March and
IF10290
April 2017, for instance, U.S. forces conducted a joint
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Tajikistan


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10290 · VERSION 11 · UPDATED

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