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Tajikistan
Government and Politics
Government: National government with nearly
all administrative powers, centered in executive branch (president
and Council of Ministers, appointed by president). Head of government
is prime minister. Supreme Assembly, unicameral parliament, with
181 deputies elected to five-year terms (first election 1995).
Divided into three provinces, one capital district (Dushanbe),
and one autonomous province with dis-puted status. Judiciary with
nominal independence but no actual power to enforce rule of law.
Politics: Essentially one-party system dominated
by Communist Party of Tajikistan. In 1994 presidential election
had only one nominal opposition candidate with similar platform.
Several opposition parties formed around 1990 and influenced events
in early years of independence, but all now operate from abroad.
Substantial maneuvering for power among former communist elements
within and outside current government.
Foreign Relations: Strong economic and military
reliance on Russia and other CIS countries. Friction and distrust
toward neighbors Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Postindependence cul-tivation
of Afghanistan and Iran, the former complicated by Afghani role
in Tajikistan civil war; limited relations with Western Europe
and United States, despite policy of expanding contacts. Ongoing
border dispute with China, 1996.
International Agreements and Memberships: United
Nations (UN), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), CIS, and
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
Data as of March 1996
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