The first multi-party election in the history of Tajikistan took place on 27 February 2000. The Joint Election Observation Mission (JEOMT), a joint effort of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the United Nations, observed this historic election most noted for the inclusion of the former belligerent parties in the electoral process. The observers reached the conclusion that the rival parties have reached political maturity and mutual trust. In a public statement, Mr. Nuri, leader of the Tajikistan Opposition indicated positively to events in the peace process and political change that have been taking place in the country. He recognized that this can be attributed to President Rakhmonov.

JEOMT teams were allowed to travel throughout the country except for lower Karategin valley and Gissar district where some incidents took place lately. The teams managed to cover more than 300 out of 2,761 polling stations in various regions, including remote areas of Gorno- Badakhshan and Leninabad.

JEOMT found that while political plurality was ensured through the participation of six parties and a number of independent candidates, the election took place within a new legislative framework failing to secure standards for the independence of election commissions, vote counts, and the tabulation of results (JEOMT, 28/02/2000). JEOMT also indicated that regional and local administration officials interfered in the preparations for and conduct of the elections in a manner not foreseen in law. They contradicted international standards for democratic elections (JEOMT, 28/02/2000).

Whereas electorate activity was very low in the capital, Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s Central Committee on Elections and Referendum reported extremely high voter turnout figures (87 per cent) just the two hours before the closing of polling stations causing serious doubt over the integrity of the voting results. Furthermore, the Central Electorate Commission did not take into consideration, that Russian remains the language of inter-ethnic and international communication. Most of the bulletins and candidates’ programs were printed only in Tajik. According to the recent census, one sixth of the country population are ethnic Uzbeks.

Konstantin Parshin, Radio NIC