Present-day Threats and Challenges of Security in Central Asia: A View from Tajikistan

TAPRI research project Security and Development Research within the Wider Europe Initiative Security Cluster has the pleasure to invite you to listen to and discuss the presentation of the project's visiting researcher at TAPRI PhD Furugzod Usmonov.

Furugzod Usmonov is Senior Lecturer at the Tajik National Unversity in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He is visiting researcher at TAPRI during 11.10.-24.10.

"In recent months the security situation in Tajikistan, an ex-Soviet state and bordering Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and China, has faced rapid destabilization. Last month an armed group was reported to ambush the country's defense ministry convoy in the Rasht Valley in central Tajikistan and leave tens of people dead. In a violent jailbreak a few days after 25 convicts representing opposition forces fled from a Dushanbe prison. News reports also tell about suicide bombers and explosions in public places. The Rasht region, which cuts through the country's central and eastern parts and borders the Kyrgyz Republic, has been cut off from all communications and a news blockade prevails for the time being.

Tajikistan went through a civil war during 1992-1997; a war exceptionally violent according to modern standards. The Peace Accords in 1997 incorporated the moderate parts of the Islamic movement in the legitimate political process, and Tajikistan has been proud of the resolution which can present an example for also Afghanistan. But political pressures have been mounting. The causes of the opposition forces are connected with the deteriorating socio-economic situation and the harsh measures of the government. In its external relations Tajikistan is in an open conflict with neighboring Uzbekistan about hydroenergy. In the south the largely uncontrolled Afghan border leaves Tajikistan a transit country of opiates to mainly Russia but also western markets. In the north there is the Kyrgyz Republic, which in the West today is looked up as the possibly first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia. In comparison with the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan is less modernized and more influenced by the processes in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Any development is complicated by the fact that the country is in the focus of geopolitical rivalries connected with the direct interests of Russia, China and the US and also the regional influence of Islamic countries including Iran. The EU is developing its policies on Central Asia. What can the Union do to foster development and stability in the region? Can Finland contribute something?

These are only my preliminary remarks and questions. Come and listen to the deeper insights which Furugzod will be able to share with us."

The presentation will be in English. Coffee and tea will be available.

About the nation-wide organization of the research project

More information
Helena Rytövuori-Apunen
helena.rytovuori-apunen@uta.fi
040 190 1593