Tajikistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Cultural Heritage

Tajikistan Nominates National Game and Stories for UNESCO Heritage List

Tajikistan is advancing efforts to preserve its cultural heritage by proposing several national traditions for inclusion on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage of Humanity list, according to Culture Minister Matlubakhon Sattoriyon. The National Commission for UNESCO is currently reviewing these nominations. One notable nomination is the traditional game nardbozi, similar to backgammon, which has been submitted jointly with Iran. Tajikistan is also seeking recognition for the folklore tales of One Thousand and One Nights and the Toki tradition, both of which reflect the rich oral storytelling heritage of the Tajik people. Aminzoda Abdufatto, director of the Research Institute of Culture and Information at the Tajik Ministry of Culture, emphasized that these proposals are part of a broader strategy to preserve Tajikistan’s cultural traditions while promoting them on the global stage. In 2024, Tajikistan successfully inscribed several cultural elements on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, including the Meҳrgon festival, a celebration of harvest and gratitude, and the art of playing the rubob, a stringed instrument central to the musical traditions of Tajikistan and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan. These recent initiatives underscore Tajikistan’s commitment to cultural diplomacy and its collaboration with neighboring countries in safeguarding shared traditions. UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognizes cultural practices, knowledge, skills, and expressions that communities identify as part of their heritage. This recognition helps raise awareness of cultural diversity and encourages the protection and preservation of these traditions.

Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack

Tver Court Convicts Salokhiddin Ashurov for Fraudulent Registrations Linked to Crocus City Hall Terror Case

A court in Tver, Russia, has found Salokhiddin Ashurov guilty of fraudulently registering individuals, including Aminchon and Dilovar Islomov, who are defendants in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack case. The verdict was reported by RIA Novosti, citing court documents. In April 2024, the Moscow District Court of Tver placed Ashurov in custody for his involvement in the fictitious registration of Russian citizens at his residential address. Among those registered were the Islomov brothers, Dilovar and Aminchon. By the summer, the case was transferred to the interdistrict court, which later forwarded it to a justice of the peace for review. Ashurov was convicted on 14 charges of fraudulent registration of Russian citizens. According to RIA Novosti sources, the Islomov family — comprising father Isroil and sons Dilovar and Aminchon — were implicated in the Crocus City Hall case. The investigation revealed that Dilovar had owned a Renault Symbol vehicle, which the attackers reportedly used to flee the crime scene before being detained in Russia's Bryansk region. Although Dilovar sold the car in February, the insurance policy remained under his name. The Islomov brothers, Russian citizens who lived in Tver and worked as taxi drivers, deny any involvement in the terrorist act. Their father, Isroil, is a Tajik citizen with a Russian residence permit. Initially, the brothers faced charges of committing a terrorist act, but in September 2024, the charges were reduced to aiding and abetting a terrorist act under Part 3 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. The Russian Investigative Committee has charged 27 individuals in connection with the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the Moscow Region, according to committee chairman Alexander Bastrykin. The case remains one of the highest-profile investigations in recent years, as authorities continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the attack.

CSTO

CSTO to Strengthen Tajik-Afghan Border in 2025

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will begin implementing a program to reinforce the Tajik-Afghan border in 2025, CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov announced during a meeting in Moscow on Thursday, according to Interfax. Tasmagambetov explained that the program outlines concrete measures to enhance security along the southern boundary of the CSTO’s area of responsibility. This announcement was made during a meeting reviewing the CSTO secretariat’s and joint staff’s activities in 2024, as well as outlining objectives for 2025. The meeting was attended by Andrei Serdyukov, head of the CSTO joint staff. In 2024, the CSTO finalized and signed agreements related to equipping its collective forces with modern weapons and military equipment. The organization also conducted joint operational and combat training exercises and actively collaborated with international organizations. As it looks ahead to 2025, the CSTO is drafting an action plan to focus on key priorities, including securing the Tajik-Afghan border, which has long been a source of concern for member states. The organization includes six member countries: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, though in December 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that his country’s relations with the CSTO have passed the “point of no return.” The Shamsiddin Shokhin section of the Tajik-Afghan border, spanning more than 100 kilometers, has been particularly problematic for years. This area has witnessed numerous security incidents, including hostage-taking and attacks on Tajik citizens and military personnel. The CSTO’s planned measures aim to address these challenges and bolster the security of this vulnerable region. By strengthening border security, the organization is seeking to reduce the risks posed by cross-border threats, including illegal trafficking and extremist activity.

Economy

Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Average Salaries

Kazakhstan continues to hold the top position in terms of average wages among Central Asian countries, according to a study conducted by analysts at Ranking.kz. Wage Comparisons Across Central Asia Data from the Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS reveals that as of September 2024, Kazakhstan's average nominal monthly salary stood at $817.20. This figure is nearly twice as high as in Uzbekistan ($437.80) and Kyrgyzstan ($411.20). Tajikistan trails significantly behind, with an average salary of just $242.80 - 3.4 times lower than Kazakhstan’s. Notably, the wage gap between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan would have been even greater if not for a significant increase in Tajik wages. Over the past year, nominal salaries in Tajikistan rose by 24.9%, while real wages increased by 21.1% - the highest growth rate in the region. In comparison, wage growth in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan was more moderate. Data on salaries in Turkmenistan remains unavailable as the country has not updated its wage statistics since 2023. Minimum Wage Comparison Kazakhstan also leads the region in terms of minimum wages. In 2024, the minimum wage in Kazakhstan is 85,000 KZT ($181.10). By contrast: In Uzbekistan, the minimum wage is $89.40. In Tajikistan, it is $54.90. In Kyrgyzstan, it is just $28.30. In Turkmenistan, the official minimum wage is reported as $402.90, based on the fixed exchange rate of 3.5 TMT per dollar. However, due to the country’s reliance on a "black market" exchange rate (approximately 19 TMT per dollar), the actual minimum wage is estimated to be much lower, around $74.20. Sectoral Analysis When analyzing nominal salaries by economic sector, the highest wages in the region are found in finance and insurance. In Kazakhstan, the average salary in this sector exceeds $1,700 - three times higher than in Tajikistan ($561.90). Workers in Kazakhstan's mining industry also enjoy high incomes. In Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the financial sector and IT industry offer the highest salaries. Meanwhile, in Tajikistan, relatively high wages are reported in the manufacturing and service sectors. Inflation and Its Impact Inflation remains a key factor affecting the real purchasing power of wages across Central Asia. According to the CIS Interstate Statistical Committee, the most significant price increases in 2024 occurred in the economically developed countries of the region - Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan: Inflation reached 7.7% in October 2024. Kazakhstan: Inflation stood at 6.6%. Kyrgyzstan: Inflation was lower at 4.2%. Tajikistan: The region’s lowest inflation rate was recorded at 3.2%. These inflation rates directly influence the population's purchasing power, even in countries with higher nominal salaries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan’s leadership in wages and minimum income underscores its position as the most economically advanced country in Central Asia. However, inflation and significant disparities in income distribution between sectors and regions remain challenges. While countries like Tajikistan are showing progress in wage growth, the overall gap in earnings between Central Asian nations continues to highlight economic inequalities within the region.

EU Relations

Does the European Parliament Judge Central Asia Fairly?

In 2024, European Parliament (EP) resolutions on Central Asia emphasized its increasing significance in a world that is being reshaped by Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s growing assertiveness. They focused on strengthening the EU’s partnerships with Central Asia while seeking to advance democratic values and human rights. These Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements aim to support economic reforms, foster sustainable development, and encourage regional cooperation. At the same time, reflecting the EU’s strategic focus on stability and resilience in the region, the EP’s resolutions urged the Central Asian states to decrease their dependency on Russian energy and avoid facilitating sanctions evasion. For the Central Asian countries, all these initiatives present opportunities to address pressing challenges and pave the way for growth. Advancing democratic governance and protecting fundamental rights, for example, can foster more inclusive and stable societies. Deeper engagement with the EU also offers access to advanced technologies and investments (as well as global markets), which are necessary for innovation and infrastructure upgrades. Likewise, the diversification of energy sources enhances regional self-reliance, reducing vulnerabilities that are tied to over-dependence on a single partner. Alignment with EU priorities, including resistance to autocratic pressures, gives Central Asia a better chance to develop its resilience and interconnected future. Some voices in the region, however — particularly among government officials and more traditionally-minded citizens — view the European Parliament's 2024 resolutions as overly critical, indeed influenced by special interests that fail to take into account the region’s unique challenges and priorities. From a Central Asian perspective, the criticisms contained in the EP’s resolutions lack essential context, focus narrowly on perceived shortcomings, and fail to give adequate consideration to the complex situation underlying governmental decisions. Such a one-sided approach, they suggest, overlooks essential cultural, historical, socio-political, and geopolitical factors. The result is a significant gap between the EU’s expectations on the one hand, and, on the other, what is reasonable to expect given the realities on the ground. The drafters of these documents often focus excessively on identifying deficiencies in democratic processes. They report violations without contextualizing the governments’ choices and often omit any mention of the views of the general public. The unfortunate consequence is that such criticisms vitiate good-faith attempts to build cooperation and partnership. The ideal becomes the enemy of the possible. Most Europeans still have a poor understanding of Central Asia. Many MEPs lack the time or resources to grasp the region’s complexity. Instead, their decisions are too often informed by resolutions that are drafted by a small group of “experts”. The language of these resolutions often reflects the drafters’ personal biases, which in turn risk deforming Europe’s strategic relationships with the region. A lack of proper scrutiny is all the more alarming in light of the Qatargate scandal, which exposed how state-funded lobbyists can distort human rights narratives to advance specific agendas. Maria Arena, the former head of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), played a central role in shaping judgments on democratic practices in Central Asia,...

Silk Road

Silk Roads Exhibition: Beating Heart of the Ancient World

On a gloomy winter’s day, The Times of Central Asia visited the Silk Roads Exhibition at the British Museum. The sight of a significant queue wrapped around the museum for entry was startling. Once inside, the exhibit thronged with visitors snaking their way to peruse artifacts arranged by region and era. Concerned about blocking display views as you read descriptions? No need to worry — thick guidebooks with full narratives greeted you at the entrance to borrow during your visit. The exhibition envisions the Silk Road as the beating heart of the ancient world, with arteries stretching across seas, mountains, and deserts. With over 300 artifacts spread across five geographical zones, it can be hard to know where to start. I observed a nearby gentleman in tweed who offered a simple tip: start with a place that interests you and go from there. Then I overheard that he was going to Cairo. New partnerships with Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) and Tajikistan’s museums had seen fresh items loaned to the exhibit. These collaborations highlight Central Asia's important role in this sweeping narrative, helping to connect the dots in this continent-spanning story. Immersed in the culture and history, I couldn’t help but wonder — what did the audience think? After a few unsuccessful attempts, I spoke with an English visitor named Georgie Bennett. [caption id="attachment_27908" align="aligncenter" width="2029"] Georgie Bennett visiting the Silk Roads Exhibition; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] TCA: What drew you here today? I think the thing for me is I have a really poor knowledge and understanding of this bit of history. So, I heard the exhibition was on and some of my friends already booked tickets, I said yes, I’ll absolutely come along because… I wanted to learn more. TCA: What’s the one item that’s caught your eye the most? I really like the story of the silk princess; it was a very humanizing story about this lady who’s newly married and brings the knowledge of how to make silk to her husband’s kingdom… I feel like I've learned so much. I’m enjoying it, though I almost wish I had a notebook and pen because I'm getting a general impression without knowing any of the details. [caption id="attachment_27909" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Charred wooden door panel from Kafir Kala, near Samarkand, Uzbekistan, circa AD 500, on loan from the State Museum reserve[/caption] The Times of Central Asia also spoke to one of the curators, Luk Yu-Ping to delve deeper into the Silk Road experience. TCA: Globalism is considered a modern concept of interconnectivity, but looking at the vast connections and influence within the Silk Road Exhibition it’s implied that this concept may have been prevalent in the past along these trade routes. Could you expand on this? This exhibition highlights the movement of people, objects, and ideas across Asia, Africa, and Europe during the period 500 to 1000 CE. The focus is not only on trade but also other ways of contact and exchange. Audiences might be...