Tajikistan’s parliamentary elections on March 2, 2024, were criticized for lacking genuine democratic elements, with President Rahmon’s party claiming victory amidst significant repression of opposition and media. Claims of transparency by groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization were discredited due to non-participation of Western observers and reports of electoral irregularities. This environment raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the electoral outcome.
On March 2, Tajikistan conducted parliamentary elections, which attracted scrutiny due to their lack of genuine democratic characteristics. President Emomali Rahmon, in power since 1992, and his People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan claimed to have won 49 out of 63 seats. However, these elections faced significant international oversight issues, with Western observers essentially barred from monitoring the process. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, led by China and Russia, erroneously hailed the elections as “transparent, credible, and democratic.”
Consequently, the elections revealed a concerning absence of political competition. All six participating parties are aligned with President Rahmon, who has diligently eradicated political dissent over his tenure. His administration has fostered a strong personality cult around himself and has systematically suppressed opposition. Freedom House categorizes Tajikistan as one of the world’s most authoritarian regimes. Following this trend, Rahmon’s son, Rustam Emomali, leads the upper house of parliament, hinting at potential dynastic succession.
The political landscape has severely limited opposition and media freedom. The Islamic Renaissance Party was banned in 2015, and the Social Democratic Party has consistently failed to secure parliamentary representation. The repression of opposition intensified with the detention of SDP leaders following the death of their leader, Rakhmatillo Zoiirov, with many receiving lengthy prison sentences.
Additionally, the government prevented independent verification of election results by canceling the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring mission for the first time since 2000. Concerns arose due to the absence of non-partisan observers and citizen participation. Experts noted that this unprecedented cancellation indicates a troubling shift towards a more despotically governed regime under Rahmon.
The media environment in Tajikistan also suffers under stringent controls. The government imposed a ban on Radio Ozodi during the elections, the last independent media outlet in the country. Reporters Without Borders ranked Tajikistan 155th in its World Press Freedom Index for 2024, reflecting severe media repression. Despite these restrictions, reports suggested electoral irregularities, such as coerced voting and fraudulent practices, indicating a troubling electoral process.
The overall conclusion is that the parliamentary elections in Tajikistan were profoundly flawed, lacking independent media oversight and transparency. President Rahmon’s relentless suppression of opposition and civil liberties cast significant doubt on the legitimacy of the electoral process. Under these restrictive conditions, the potential for free and fair elections appears fundamentally compromised.
In summary, the parliamentary elections held in Tajikistan on March 2, 2024, were characterized by a lack of political competition, media repression, and insufficient international oversight. President Rahmon’s long-standing authoritarian regime continues to undermine any genuine democratic processes, rendering the legitimacy of the election highly questionable. The restrained political environment, coupled with reported irregularities, suggests that the pathway to democracy remains elusive for Tajikistan.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
