Stories about Tajikistan from December, 2007
Tajikistan: Reactions on the Bhutto Death
Vadim reports that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was accepted in Tajikistan as a great sorrow.
Tajikistan: Fire at the Medical University
Vadim reports that — due a metal fence — firefighters could not put out the fire that has ruined the major medical university in Tajikistan.
Tajikistan: Students not allowed to drive cars
Vadim's post is about the Tajikistan president's order to strictly punish – right up to expulsion from the schools – students that are driving cars in the country.
Tajikistan: Avalanche kills people
Vadim reports that an avalanche killed sixteen people on the road connecting Khujand and Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan.
Tajiksitan: Parliament against witches
Tajikistan is trying to put a spell on witchcraft and fortune-telling. Actually, this comes as a no-surprise to many Tajiks after all those strange laws that have been passed one after another by our parliament. The bill on witchery is also part of the “Cultural Revolution” in Tajikistan, started earlier...
Tajikistan: Bread Prices
Ian looks back at 2007 in Tajikistan and says that the hottest issue by far being discussed was the rise in the price of staple foods, especially bread.
Tajikistan: Hydropower Delayed
Bboyd reports that the launch of Tajikistan’s big hydropower plant is delayed again due to lack of concrete deliveries.
Tajikistan: Fortune Tellers to Be Banned
Vadim reflects on the authorities’ decision to banish witchcraft and fortune-telling, and thinks that this is another trick of authorities to draw away the attention of people from more important issues, such as electricity cut-offs, increase in food and oil prices, lack of gas etc.
Tajikistan: Aluminum & Brass
Bboyd reports that Tajikistan’s aluminum company Talco is having commercial relationship with Norway’s Hydro. He notes that although it is good that Tajikistan has a commodity that could fund some serious domestic development, but, unfortunately, corruption and switched contracts are turning this potential cash cow into mincemeat.
Tajikistan: Ban on Witchcraft to Be Passed
Ian says that it counld have been funny if weren't sad — the draft law forbidding witchcraft is about to be passed by the Tajik government.
Tajikistan: Russia's Back
Vadim reports that Russia has regained its involvement in construction of the Rogun power station in Tajikistan and obtain a 50% share in this project.
Tajikistan: Exporting Water
Vadim thinks that Tajikistan will never be able to get huge revenues from exporting water, a plan for which is currently discussed by the country's top officials.
Tajikistan: Labor migrants as a political tool
Vadim reports that Tajik labor migrants have become a serious leverage in the hands of Russia against Tajik government, while the “presence of Tajik migrant workers in Russia remains a sensitive issue for both sides”.
Tajikistan: UNDP Says Tajiks Are Less Developed
Vadim points out that, according to the United Nation's Development Program, Tajikistan has the worst indices of human development among the former Soviet states.