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A former Soviet republic, Tajikistan plunged into civil war almost as soon as it became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. A rugged, mountainous country, with lush valleys to the south and north, it is Central Asia's poorest nation. Tajiks are the country's largest ethnic group, with Uzbeks making up a quarter of the population, over half of which is employed in agriculture and just one-fifth in industry. Nearly half of Tajikistan's population is under 14 years of age. The Tajik language is very close to Persian, spoken in Iran, and to Dari, spoken in Afghanistan. Tajikistan has been stable since the end of the civil war which followed independence At a glance *.Politics: Elections have been marred by allegations of fraud since the 1990s civil war *.Economy: Tajikistan is Central Asia's poorest nation and it depends on oil and gas imports *.International: Russia helps Tajikistan with security and economic problems and has a military base in Dushanbe Cou...

A former Soviet republic, Tajikistan plunged into civil war almost as soon as it became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. A rugged, mountainous country, with lush valleys to the south and north, it is Central Asia's poorest nation. Tajiks are the country's largest ethnic group, with Uzbeks making up a quarter of the population, over half of which is employed in agriculture and just one-fifth in industry. Nearly half of Tajikistan's population is under 14 years of age. The Tajik language is very close to Persian, spoken in Iran, and to Dari, spoken in Afghanistan. Tajikistan has been stable since the end of the civil war which followed independence At a glance *.Politics: Elections have been marred by allegations of fraud since the 1990s civil war *.Economy: Tajikistan is Central Asia's poorest nation and it depends on oil and gas imports *.International: Russia helps Tajikistan with security and economic problems and has a military base in Dushanbe Cou...

Opponents accuse President Imomali Rakhmon of developing a personality cult. Voters in Tajikistan are casting their ballots, with incumbent President Imomali Rakhmon widely expected to win a new seven-year term. Mr Rakhmon, 61, faces five challengers, but the only genuine opposition candidate is barred from standing. The authoritarian leader has been in office for more than 20 years in the impoverished former Soviet republic. The EU and the US have not recognised a single election in the Central Asian country as free and fair. Security challenges Polls across the mountainous country were due to open at 01:00 GMT and close at 15:00 GMT. Preliminary results are expected on Thursday. Mr Rakhmon, who secured 79% of the vote in the 2006 election, did not campaign actively this time. Instead, the president relied on extensive media coverage of his visits around the country, which his opponents say was heavily biased in his favour. The opposition accuses Mr Rakhmon - whose huge bill...

Opponents accuse President Imomali Rakhmon of developing a personality cult. Voters in Tajikistan are casting their ballots, with incumbent President Imomali Rakhmon widely expected to win a new seven-year term. Mr Rakhmon, 61, faces five challengers, but the only genuine opposition candidate is barred from standing. The authoritarian leader has been in office for more than 20 years in the impoverished former Soviet republic. The EU and the US have not recognised a single election in the Central Asian country as free and fair. Security challenges Polls across the mountainous country were due to open at 01:00 GMT and close at 15:00 GMT. Preliminary results are expected on Thursday. Mr Rakhmon, who secured 79% of the vote in the 2006 election, did not campaign actively this time. Instead, the president relied on extensive media coverage of his visits around the country, which his opponents say was heavily biased in his favour. The opposition accuses Mr Rakhmon - whose huge bill...