DUSHANBE, September 13, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik politicians have denied speculations of Russian deputy defense minister about the possibility of recurrence of Arab-style unrest in Tajikistan as unfounded.
We will recall that in a report released at a new conference in Moscow, Nikolai Makarov, Chief of the Armed Forces” General Staff, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, revealed on September 12 that it is hard to forecast armed conflicts that have taken place in Libya and Syria.
At the same time, Russia general added that it could not be ruled that such events might happen in other countries, including Central Asia’s nations. According to him, Russia must be ready for such incidents.
“Processes that have taken place in North Africa and Middle East are unpredictable. What is going to happen next there? What types of leadership will be there? This must be signal for all states,” said Makarov. “We have similar questions in Central Asia’s countries. We must be ready for anything. Therefore, we practice this during military exercises.”
Commenting on these speculations, a prominent Tajik religious leader and former deputy prime minister Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda said the Arab-style unrest was impossible in Tajikistan.
According to him, the motive power of the events in Arab countries that shook Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria and Yemen was Islam.
“Since Western countries and Russia do not have enough experience of cooperation with the Islamic world, they did not support insurgents at first,” said Turajonzoda, “But when it was found that these forces are gaining the upper hand, they supported them and thereby they made Islamic forces their debtors.”
He expressed hope that evolutionary changes in Tajikistan will take place within the framework of applicable legislation, without any shocks and clashes. “However, as pragmatist I do not believe that the authorities will voluntarily lead these changes,” Turajonzoda said.
Sattor Kholov, the deputy head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Public Order, Defense and Security, also considers that general Makarov’s speculations are absolutely baseless.
According to him, an “Arab Spring” scenario is unlikely coming to Tajikistan. “The Arab-style unrest is impossible here because Tajikistan has lived a five-year civil conflict,” said MP. “Tajik people that have gone through torments and hardships of civil war will prevent recurrence of it in their country.”
