Small, impoverished Tajikistan, which suffered a disastrous civil war in the 1990s, now faces a potentially destabilizing return of thousands of its migrant workers from Russia as well as a worsening human rights record. Although as part of the settlement of the civil war, Tajikistan became the only country in the region with a registered Islamic political party, the government recently banned the party and jailed many of its members on allegations of ties to terrorism. Countering terrorism has been used as a justification for repressive policies that restrict religious freedom, media freedom, and the space for civil society and human rights activists to function. President Rahmon’s rubber-stamp parliament recently approved legislation that would allow him to run for unlimited terms in office. The OSCE established the OSCE mission to Tajikistan in 1994; its mandate has been updated twice, and it is now called the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. The OSCE has observed Tajikistan’s national elections since 2000, although it has not found them to be conducted in accordance with international standards.

The Helsinki Commission has closely followed developments in Tajikistan since its independence in 1991, and has held hearings on Tajikistan’s democratic development as well as on regional issues that affect it. Most recently, the Commission held a hearing on the threat of ISIL in Central Asia.