Join us for the virtual discussion
What's At Stake In Tajikistan's Presidential Elections
|
|
Tajikistan is headed to a crucial presidential election on October 11 as incumbent Emonmali Rahman, who has been in power since 1992, is once more on the ballot.
The other four candidates on the ballot are Rustam Latifzoda of the Agrarian Party, Abduhalim Ghafforov of the Socialist Party, Miroj Abdulloev of the Communist Party, and Rustam Rahmatzoda of the Party of Economic Reforms.
The Social Democratic Party, as the only opposition party functioning inside the country, is boycotting the polls. Evidently, Emomali Rahmon is in an advantageous position to win the election which is overshadowed by speculations that he is preparing his son, Rustam Emomali, as his successor if and when Emomali Rahman decides to step down.
Additionally, Tajikistan is facing severe economic challenges due to the dramatic decrease in remittances from Tajik migrant workers in Russia, as well as growing domestic crackdowns against perceived and unperceived opponents of the regime. This panel will analyze what's at stake in Tajikistan's presidential elections, and what it means for the country's future.
|
|
Sirojiddin Tolibov is the Managing Editor of RFE/RL’s Tajik Service. Having reported on operations against Islamic militants from the main hot spots in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan throughout his journalistic career, he is an expert on security matters, Islamic groups, human rights, and social and economic issues in Central Asia. Hundreds of his articles have been published across the globe in English, Russian, Persian, Turkish, and Uzbek. He made several short documentaries on Islamic militancy, corruption, and on human rights issues in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Prior to RFE/RL, Tolibov spent 20 years with the BBC World Service’s Central Asian unit as a reporter, manager, news anchor, and editor. In 2001, he was announced as the Service’s Best Reporter. He has also performed leading roles in award winning BBC radio dramas. Tolibov holds an honorary masters degree from the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies.
|
|
Dr. Hélène Thibault is professor of Political Science at Nazarbayev University since 2016. She specializes in ethnography, religion, secularism, and the Soviet legacy. Her current projects also look at gender issues in Central Asia, more specifically, marriage and polygyny. She is also a member of the The Political Economy of Education Research (PEER) Network, led by the University of Ulster and of the Oxus Society based in Washington. Apart from research activities, she also took part in multiple election observation missions with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine and travelled extensively in the former USSR.
|
|
Edward Lemon is a Research Assistant Professor at The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, Washington D.C. teaching site. He has previously held positions at the Wilson Center and Columbia University. Dr. Lemon’s research focuses on authoritarianism and security issues in Central Asia. He is editor of the book Critical Approaches to Security in Central Asia (Routledge, 2018). His research has been published in Democratization, Central Asian Affairs, Caucasus Survey, Journal of Democracy, Central Asian Survey, the Review of Middle Eastern Studies, and The RUSI Journal.
|
|
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT)
Event Number (access code): 120 162 3231
Event password: CAP1007
|
This event is on the record, open to the public, and will be recorded.
Photo by Picasa
|
The Central Asia Program
Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES)
Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
1957 E Street, NW | Suite 412 | Washington, DC | 20052
The Central Asia Program (CAP) promotes academic and policy research on contemporary Central Asia, and serves as an interface for the policy, academic, diplomatic, and business communities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|