Rakhmonov halfway

14 years in power are behind us, 14 more are ahead

Although the preliminary results of the presidential elections held yesterday in Tajikistan will be announced today, the name of the winner has long been known. This is the country's president, Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov, who has been in power in Tajikistan for exactly 14 years, since November 1992. Then, at a session of the Supreme Council of the republic, held far from the capital, near Khujand (Dushanbe was in the hands of the Islamic-democratic Tajik opposition), the previous president, Rakhmon Nabiyev, was forced to resign. The presidential post was abolished, and Emomali Rakhmonov, who had worked for several weeks as chairman of the Kulyab regional executive committee and before that the director of the state farm, was elected speaker of parliament.

Two years later, in 1994, the institution of the presidency was restored, elections were held, and Rakhmonov became president for the first time. For the next presidential elections in 1999, an amendment was made to the Constitution of Tajikistan, increasing the presidential term from five to seven years, but limiting the number of these terms for one person to one. Rakhmonov won his second election. Five years later, in 2003, the constitution was changed again - now one person could rule the country for two seven-year terms. The age limit of 65 years for the current president was also lifted. The fact that all these amendments were made for a specific person, Mr. Rakhmonov, was no secret to anyone.

Yesterday, 54-year-old Rakhmonov became president for the third time and seven years later, in 2013, he will be able to run again, since the current term will be considered the first under the constitution changed three years ago. If everything goes well for him, Mr. Rakhmonov will have the opportunity to remain in power in Tajikistan until 2020.

In yesterday's elections, Rakhmonov had four rivals - a communist, an agrarian, a socialist and a supporter of economic reforms. Their names are unknown to few people even in Tajikistan. All those who could compete with the president are either in prison, on the run, or have received convincing notices that such activity is inappropriate. And the majority of Tajiks themselves are not interested in these elections. Tired of the bloody civil war of the mid-90s, filled with apathy, they have become accustomed to life under Rakhmonov and are afraid of change.

The only intrigue is the number of votes cast for Rakhmonov. According to Vremya Novostei information obtained from sources in the Central Election Commission of Tajikistan, its chairman Mirzoali Boltuev on the eve of the vote was most concerned about the traditional “competition” on the ground when summing up the results - election commissions strive to show better results of support for the president than their neighbors. However, the total number of voters for Rakhmonov should not exceed 80%, so that there is no discrepancy with the number of signatures collected for each of his four rivals on the eve of the elections. These potential voters should take away about 20% of the votes from Rakhmonov. The chairman of the Central Election Commission did not dare to coordinate his actions with the president himself or with his entourage, according to our sources, fearing the “highest” anger...

Arkady DUBNOV