Tajikistan’s parliamentary elections on March 2, 2024, were marred by a lack of real political competition and inadequate international oversight. The ruling party, aligned with President Emomali Rahmon, declared victory amidst criticisms that the elections were not genuinely democratic. Media freedom remains severely restricted, raising questions about the legitimacy of the election results.
On March 2, Tajikistan, the most impoverished nation in Central Asia, conducted parliamentary elections under the long-standing leadership of President Emomali Rahmon, who has held power since 1992. His party, the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan, claimed victory by securing 49 out of 63 parliamentary seats. However, these elections were significantly characterized by a lack of international oversight, as Western observers were largely prevented from monitoring the electoral process.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, led by China and Russia, pronounced the elections as “transparent, credible, and democratic,” a sentiment echoed by the Chinese government, which lauded the elections as democratic and inclusive. Nevertheless, these assertions do not reflect the true conditions of the electoral process in Tajikistan.
The elections featured no real political competition, as all participating parties were aligned with Rahmon. Over the years, he has systematically dismantled political dissent, resulting in a political climate dominated by loyalist figures. Freedom House categorizes the Tajik regime as one of the most authoritarian worldwide, highlighting the absence of real legislative authority in the parliament, which the Norwegian Helsinki Committee described as a mere “rubber-stamp body.”
Political opposition has been virtually eradicated since the government banned the Islamic Renaissance Party in 2015. The Social Democratic Party, another opposition entity, has been unsuccessful in securing parliamentary seats, and its leaders face constant persecution. Following the death of SDP leader Rakhmatillo Zoiirov, his deputy and several others were detained and sentenced to lengthy prison terms under dubious circumstances.
The electoral process lacked transparency, and the Tajik government ensured results could not be independently verified. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) canceled its monitoring mission for the first time since 2000 due to concerns regarding the lack of assurance for accreditation. This unprecedented cancellation highlighted a troubling trend towards increased authoritarianism and a shift towards a more despotic regime.
Moreover, the Tajik government prohibited Radio Ozodi, the local service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, from covering the elections, further crippling the media landscape. Reporters Without Borders ranked Tajikistan 155th in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index. Nonetheless, some media outlets reported concerning irregularities, including coercion of sick individuals to vote for the ruling party and instances of individuals voting on behalf of others.
The absence of independent media or election monitors raises grave concerns about the validity of the election results. President Rahmon’s ongoing oppression of political opposition and media freedoms casts significant doubt on the potential for free and fair elections in Tajikistan. The legitimacy of the recent elections is thus highly questionable.
The parliamentary elections in Tajikistan were fundamentally flawed, characterized by an absence of genuine political competition and the repression of dissent. The claims made by international bodies regarding their transparency and credibility starkly contrast with the reported realities. Without independent oversight or media, the integrity of the electoral process remains in serious doubt, reflecting a deepening authoritarianism under President Rahmon’s regime.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
