Wikipedia (RU): Civil War in Tajikistan 1992–1997

The Russian-language Wikipedia article “Гражданская война в Таджикистане” describes an armed intra-ethnic conflict in Tajikistan between supporters of the central authorities and groupings of the United Tajik Opposition that followed the country’s declaration of independence after the collapse of the USSR. The article dates the conflict from 5 May 1992 to 27 June 1997, with the most intense fighting from late August 1992 to July 1993. The article reports that causes included the post-Soviet economic situation, clan-based governance, high religiosity, and the emergence of an Islamic-democratic opposition during perestroika — the opposition core including the Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT), the Democratic Party of Tajikistan (DPT), the Rastokhez movement and Lali Badakhshan. The article names key figures: Rahmon Nabiev (Рахмон Набиев), elected president in November 1991; his opponent Davlat Khudonazarov (Давлат Худоназаров); Supreme Council chair Safarali Kenjaev (Сафарали Кенджаев); interior minister Mamadayoz Navjuvanov (Мамадаёз Навджуванов); People’s Front of Tajikistan leader Sangak Safarov (Сангак Сафаров); and Emomali Rahmonov (Эмомали Рахмонов), elected Supreme Council chair on 16 November – 2 December 1992 in Khujand. The article reports mass unrest in Dushanbe (February 1990), the assassination of Prosecutor General Nurulla Khuvaydulloev (Нурулла Хувайдуллоев) on 24 August 1992 by Rahimbek Nurullobekov and Davlatbek Mahmudov, and the 31 August 1992 storming of the presidential residence. The article reports the conflict produced 20,000–50,000 deaths in 1992 alone (citing Memorial), around 90,000 Russian-speaking residents fled, 132,000 internally displaced by July. It reports Uzbek, Russian and other CIS involvement, Russia’s 201st motor rifle division, alleged Uzbek GRU special forces participation (per cited ‘Russian Reporter’ interview), and later Afghan mujahideen cross-border incursions in 1993. It reports the 21 June 1993 Supreme Court ban on opposition parties (DPT, IRPT, Rastokhez, Lali Badakhshan) who then formed the United Tajik Opposition. Sources cited: Memorial, Human Rights Watch, “Русский репортёр”, individual commanders’ memoirs.