Tajikistan

Tajikistan is a landlocked nation in Central Asia, a former Soviet Union border region whose modern borders touch both Afghanistan and China. Home to around 10.5 million people, they are an overwhelmingly Islamic nation. After independence from the Soviet Union, a civil war ensued, lasting 5 years and won by former Soviets and Russian border guards. They are reliant on aluminum and cotton exports for their economy, as well as Tajiks living abroad who send their paychecks home through remittances.

Emomali Rahmon has governed the state as an authoritarian dictator since 1994, after winning a series of undemocratic elections and slowly chipping away at an already weak constitution, finally removing term limits in 2016. He goes by the title “Leader of the Nation” and has given himself lifelong immunity from prosecution. His party, the People’s Democratic Party, has a stranglehold on the legislative chambers. Several opposition “parties” exist, but they are controlled opposition, similar to the Russian system. As for what will happen when Rahmon is gone, his son, Rustam, is being primed as the political successor. The government is rife with corruption and nepotism, with many close business and political allies, as well as family members, holding important government positions. There is little to no freedom of speech, rampant violations of human rights, and little independent media.