Language Research

8. Miscellaneous: What else can be found about languages and minorities?

August 1990 - A declaration of sovereignty was adopted on August 25. Although the declaration emphasized the equality of all nationalities living in Tajikistan, the growth in Islamic influence, the rediscovery of the Tajiks' Iranian heritage and language and the uncertain political situation, all contributed to an increase in emigration from the Republic, mainly by Europeans and educated Tajiks.

January 1994 - The Russian community in Tajikistan has sent a letter to President Yeltsin, suggesting the introduction of dual citizenship for local Russian-speaking residents, and the creation of a united economic as well as spiritual space.

July 20, 1994 - Tajikistan's parliament rejected a proposal to make Russian an official language alongside the state language of Farsi. A second proposal to grant Russians and other ethnic minorities dual citizenship was shelved.

September 7, 1995 - Tajikistan and Russia signed an agreement on dual citizenship and a declaration on greater integration between the two countries. The declaration also contained a promise from both countries to prevent discrimination against ethnic minorities, and to provide full civil, social, economic and cultural rights to all citizens of both countries irrespective of an individual's nationality.

May 2, 1996 - A new weekly newspaper called “Press Panorama” was registered by the Tajik Ministry of Culture and Information. The weekly will be published in five languages - Tajik, Russian, Uzbek, Persian and English. The main aim of its founders was “to propagate the ideas of democracy, humanity and friendship among peoples”.

April 23, 1999 - An agreement on the procedure for and conditions of broadcasting of Russian TV-companies' programs in Tajikistan was signed within the framework of the country's president Emomali Rakhmonov's visit to Russia. The Russian language of the broadcasting was an important part of this agreement.

According to the estimates 380,000 ethnic Russians left the country. The new language policy is not considered to be the major reason for the emigration from the country, but more likely they have left seeking greater economic opportunities.

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