Tajikistan

by Vladimir Rozanskij | CENTRAL ASIA

After much hesitation and meetings at the level of individual countries, now in Samarkand the European Union has openly declared its intention to ‘raise relations to the level of strategic partnership’ with the region as a whole. But local leaders, who aim to ‘diversify’ their foreign policy, are waiting to see how many resources Brussels will really put on the table.

Peace between Dushanbe and Bishkek and its advantages

by Vladimir Rozanskij | KYRGYZSTAN - TAJIKISTAN

The demolition of Dushanbe's history

by Vladimir Rozanskij | TAJIKISTAN

The ‘modern’ Ramadan of today's Central Asia

by Vladimir Rozanskij | CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The agreement between Kyrgyz and Tajiks-sealed by the embrace between Žaparov and Rakhmon-affects as much as 1,000 kilometers of border and and comes after discussions and clashes dating back to the twentieth century, when both states were under Moscow's control. As recently as three years ago, armed clashes had occurred with several casualties on both sides.

| 17/03/2025
| CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

President Rakhmon has reinserted Tirgon, the ‘rain festival’ which according to tradition took place on the longest day of the year, a tradition linked to local epics, but which today takes on a new meaning in the fight against the drying up of rivers and basins throughout Central Asia.

| 13/03/2025
| TAJIKISTAN
by Vladimir Rozanskij

As expected, the party of Emomali Rakhmon, who has been at the helm of the country since 1994, obtained an absolute majority and only parties controlled by the president entered parliament. Despite the regime's clearly repressive nature, there are no international sanctions against Tajikistan, confirming the feeling that the ruling caste in Dushanbe is untouchable.

| 04/03/2025
| TAJIKISTAN
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Tajiks consider themselves the main heirs of the trade routes of centuries ago, of the ‘first Eurasian globalisation’ in history. But today, according to the political scientist Abdugani Mamadazimov, they are forced to play catch-up with their neighbours while the whole world looks to Central Asia as a crucial area of connections between East and West.

| 18/02/2025
| CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

From Kazakhstan to Tajikistan, procedures have been adopted throughout the region to change the spelling of surnames by eliminating the patronymic forms imposed during tsarist and Soviet domination, in order to recover Turkic or other ethnic roots. However, only a few personalities have taken this step, perceived by many as an unnecessary complication.

| 31/01/2025
| CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

It was founded in 1931 to transform a desert area into a model metropolis by mobilizing the best architects, engineers and builders of the Soviet Union. And despite the country's backwardness even today this city continues to be enriched with new streets, squares and city parks.

| 24/01/2025
| TAJIKISTAN
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