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Tajikistan

Small, impoverished Tajikistan, which suffered a disastrous civil war in the 1990s, now faces a potentially destabilizing return of thousands of its migrant workers from Russia in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as a worsening human rights record. Although as part of the settlement of the civil war, Tajikistan became the only country in the region with a registered Islamic political party, the government banned the party in 2015 and jailed many of its members on allegations of ties to terrorism. Countering terrorism has been used as a justification for repressive policies that restrict religious freedom, media freedom, and the space for civil society and human rights activists to function. In 2016, President Rahmon’s rubber-stamp parliament approved legislation allowing him to run for unlimited terms in office. The OSCE established the OSCE mission to Tajikistan in 1993; its mandate has been updated three times, and it is now called the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. The OSCE had observed Tajikistan’s national elections since 2000 and found them not to be conducted in accordance with international standards; in 2020, the OSCE decided not to conduct a full observation of the parliamentary elections as previous recommended changes had not been implemented and the level of respect for fundamental freedoms had declined further. The Helsinki Commission has closely followed developments in Tajikistan since its independence in 1991, and has held hearings on Tajikistan’s democratic development as well as on regional issues that affect it.
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Articles

Helsinki Commission Advances Human Rights, Demands f...

Oct 19, 2023

By Shannon Simrell, Senior Policy Advisor Between October 2-13, 11 Helsinki Commission staff joined approximately 1,400 representatives of OSCE participating States (pS) and civil society representatives in Warsaw, Poland in […]

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Press Releases

Co-Chairman Cohen, Ranking Member Wilson Introduce T...

Jul 30, 2021

WASHINGTON—Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Ranking Member Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) yesterday introduced the Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention (TRAP) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. […]

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Hearings

Sweden’s Leadership of the OSCE

Jun 11, 2021

In 2021, Sweden chairs the world’s largest regional security organization—the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)—which comprises 57 participating States stretching from North America, across Europe, and to […]

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Press Releases

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde to Appear at Hels...

Jun 03, 2021

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following online hearing: SWEDEN’S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE Priorities for 2021 Friday, June […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Commemorates 45 Years of Advanci...

Jun 03, 2021

WASHINGTON—To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, on June 3, Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) and […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Leaders Mark World Press Freedom...

May 03, 2021

WASHINGTON—On World Press Freedom Day, Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) and commission leaders Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) and Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statements: “Press freedom […]

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Articles

OSCE Ministerial Council Appoints Top Leaders, Adopt...

Dec 21, 2020

By Shannon Simrell, Representative of the Helsinki Commission to the U.S. Mission to the OSCE Foreign ministers of the 57 OSCE participating States convened on December 3 – 4, 2020, […]

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Digests

Helsinki Commission Digital Digest: December 2020

Dec 21, 2020

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Press Releases

Co-Chairman Wicker on Secretary of State’s New Desig...

Dec 10, 2020

WASHINGTON—Following U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s December 7 designations for Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and the Special Watch List for the worst religious freedom violations, Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman […]

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Press Releases

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to Appear at Helsin...

Sep 09, 2020

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following online hearing: ALBANIA’S CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE OSCE Responding to the Multiple Challenges […]

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In the News

The OSCE: A Bulwark Against Authoritarianism

Aug 13, 2020

As we mark the 45th anniversary of the 1975 signing of the Helsinki Final Act, the founding document of today’s Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the ideals of […]

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Press Releases

Hastings: Petty Parochialism Denies OSCE Vital Leade...

Jul 14, 2020

WASHINGTON—Following yesterday’s failure of OSCE representatives to renew the mandates of four leadership positions—the OSCE Secretary General, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Representative on Freedom of the Media, […]

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