After Tajikistan’s official ban on foreign-funded seminars and other types of foreign conferences in early October, Western NGOs have been canceling foreign activities for Tajik youth in the country. A letter from the Education Ministry to university administrators prohibited university students from participating in any event sponsored by international NGOs. Western NGOs now have to shift their goals and objectives in response to the governmental directive.
Critics have voiced concern over the Tajik government’s move to shut out Western influences in the country, since the government relies heavily on donor assistance from international constituencies. International funding of school programs, such as the aforementioned youth camps, would be affected by the government’s measures. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) might potentially cancel its language testing for international student exchanges because of the new prohibitions.
Western diplomats are shocked at the ban, since international NGOs play an enormous role in the country’s economy, public health, and infrastructure. Students are traditionally the main target of these NGOs in developing countries such as Tajikistan, which is still recovering from years of stagnant Soviet rule.
Political commentators believe that the Tajik administration is trying to emulate Vladimir Putin’s actions against civil society groups prior to the 2013 Tajikistan election. This attempt to control civil society and freedom of information is disconcerting, as the lack of available information would mean less accountability and transparency of the government just ahead of the national elections in 2013.
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