Tajikistan Elections: An Illusion of Democracy Under Emomali Rahmon
Tajikistan held parliamentary elections under Emomali Rahmon’s rule with significant restrictions on fair competition and international oversight. Claims of democratic processes from China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have been challenged by the lack of media freedom and political opposition. Reports indicate voter coercion and fraud, leading to widespread skepticism regarding the election results and the integrity of Tajikistan’s political environment.
Tajikistan, Central Asia’s poorest nation, conducted parliamentary elections on March 2, under the long-standing leadership of Emomali Rahmon, who has ruled since 1992. His party, the People’s Democratic Party, announced victory, claiming 49 out of 63 seats in parliament. However, the elections were severely criticized due to the absence of international monitoring, with Western observers barred entirely from oversight. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, led by China and Russia, called the elections “transparent, credible, and democratic,” a description contested by many who recognize the dissonance with the actual electoral environment.
The political landscape in Tajikistan provides no genuine competition, with all participating parties aligned with President Rahmon. Over three decades, he has systematically dismantled political opposition and fostered a landscape where dissent is not tolerated. The regime is notably labeled one of the most authoritarian worldwide by Freedom House. Concerns grow around potential dynastic succession as Rahmon’s son, Rustam Emomali, chairs the upper house. The parliament is described by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee as merely a “rubber-stamp body,” lacking substantive legislative power.
Repression against opposition and the media remains prevalent. Following the death of opposition leader Rakhmatillo Zoiirov, his deputy and several others faced severe charges, with Khakimov receiving an 18-year prison sentence. Political dissidents, under opaque charges, are regularly detained. Reports indicate that individuals have been condemned in closed trials, further shrouded in secrecy, leaving the public uninformed about the evidence against them.
Independent verification of election results was rendered impossible, as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe canceled its monitoring for the first time since 2000. Concerns were raised regarding the lack of accredited international observers and non-partisan citizen watchdogs. Human rights expert Steve Swerdlow characterized this absence as indicative of escalating authoritarianism under Rahmon’s regime. Moreover, the government restricted Radio Ozodi from covering the elections, intensifying a hostile environment for independent media, consistently ranked poorly in freedom indices.
In the wake of these developments, allegations of voter fraud surfaced despite official assertions of legitimacy. Reports indicated coercion of vulnerable individuals into voting for the ruling party and incidences of proxy voting using stacks of passports. The combination of a repressive political atmosphere and lack of independent oversight leads to serious doubts about the integrity of Tajikistan’s recent elections.
The parliamentary elections in Tajikistan have been characterized by a significant absence of independent oversight, media repression, and a lack of political competition, casting substantial doubt on their legitimacy. The continued authoritarian grip of President Rahmon, coupled with widespread fears of a dynastic succession, reinforce concerns regarding the viability of democratic processes in the country. Overall, these factors contribute to the conclusion that the elections were far from free or fair.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
