[20200814]IF10290_塔吉克斯坦.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated August 14, 2020TajikistanOverview Tajikistan is a landlocked country that borders four other states, including China and Afghanistan, and maintains close ties with Russia. Formerly a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan became independent in 1991. The countrys long border with Afghanistan and the specter of spreading regional instability draw interest in Tajikistan from China, Russia, and the United States. Because Tajikistan depends heavily on remittances, primarily from Russia, the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is causing significant economic strain. Tajikistan is also becoming increasingly dependent on China, which is Tajikistans largest foreign creditor and is building up a security presence in the country. Tajikistan has faced incidents of violence attributed to the Islamic State (IS), but the government also uses the prospect of insurgent activity as a pretext for stifling opposition. President Emomali Rahmon and his family control the government and significant sectors of the economy, and corruption is pervasive. Political Background Government: Tajikistan is a presidential republic with power hea