Rastokhez
Encyclopedia
The Rastokhez party was a political party
in Tajikistan
in the years of independence and civil war (1989–1997).
It was founded on September 14, 1989, by members of the Tajik intelligentsia
, among them Tohir Abdujabbor, with a moderate nationalist
and democratic program.
Its prominent position in the opposition to the ruling Communist Party of Tajikistan
insured that it became the main scapegoat for the Dushanbe
riots of February 1990. The party was banned, which ensured total victory for the Communists in the upcoming elections.
During the next years and the Tajik Civil War, Rastokhez, then underground, as well as the similarly minded Democratic Party
, participated in the United Tajik Opposition
(UTO) along with more Islamic groups. The party ceased to exist at the same time as the UTO, its members having mostly joined the Democratic Party at the time of the peace treaty (June 1997).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
in the years of independence and civil war (1989–1997).
It was founded on September 14, 1989, by members of the Tajik intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
, among them Tohir Abdujabbor, with a moderate nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
and democratic program.
Its prominent position in the opposition to the ruling Communist Party of Tajikistan
Communist Party of Tajikistan
The Communist Party of Tajikistan is a political party in Tajikistan.At the last legislative elections, 27 February and 13 March 2005, the party won 13.97% of the popular vote and 4 out of 63 seats....
insured that it became the main scapegoat for the Dushanbe
Dushanbe
-Economy:Coal, lead, and arsenic are mined nearby in the cities of Nurek and Kulob allowing for the industrialization of Dushanbe. The Nurek Dam, the world's highest as of 2008, generates 95% of Tajikistan's electricity, and another dam, the Roghun Dam, is planned on the Vakhsh River...
riots of February 1990. The party was banned, which ensured total victory for the Communists in the upcoming elections.
During the next years and the Tajik Civil War, Rastokhez, then underground, as well as the similarly minded Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Tajikistan)
The Democratic Party is a Liberal, pro-market political party in Tajikistan.The party received no seats in the last legislative elections, 27 February and 13 March 2005, but percentages are not available. The party boycotted the 2006 Presidential election....
, participated in the United Tajik Opposition
United Tajik Opposition
The United Tajik Opposition was an alliance of democratic, liberal and Islamist forces that fought in the Tajik Civil War from 1992 to 1997 against administration of President Emomali Rahmonov....
(UTO) along with more Islamic groups. The party ceased to exist at the same time as the UTO, its members having mostly joined the Democratic Party at the time of the peace treaty (June 1997).