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