“Fetishization of Somoni” Continues in Tajikistan · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

As Tajikistan's president unveils yet another statue of national icon Ismoil Somoni, blogger Tomiris criticizes [ru] monument monoculture in the country:
Don't we have other historical figures to erect statues to? Was Somoni really the only one of its kind? I understand that this fetishization of Somoni is a political phenomenon, [part of] nation building, so to say. But why are the representatives of our intelligentsia <…> silent about this? Do they also worship Somoni?
Tomiris has previously argued against the ‘Somonization’ of Tajikistan.