Safarali Kenjayev (18 February 1942 – 30 March 1999) was a Tajik politician who served as the Speaker of the
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet () was the common name for the legislative bodies (parliaments) of the Soviet socialist republics (SSR) in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). These soviets were modeled after the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, establ ...
in
Tajikistan
Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...
1991–1992, Chairman of the Tajik Parliament's committee on
human rights
Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...
and legislation, and as head of the
Socialist Party of Tajikistan
The Socialist Party of Tajikistan (; ) is a political party in Tajikistan. The party was founded on 15 June 1996, and registered on 6 August the same year.Tajikistan: Controversial figure killed RadioFreeEurope/RadioLibertyTajikistan Votes 2005 RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Early life
Kenjayev was born in 1942 in the
Panjakent District
Panjakent District or Nohiya-i Panjakent (; ) is a former district in Sughd Region, Tajikistan. Its capital was Panjakent. Around 2018, it was merged into the city of Panjakent.
Administrative divisions
The district was divided administratively i ...
In 1965, Kenjayev graduated from Tajik State University with a degree in law. He started his career as a detective at the Public Prosecutor's Office. During his stint, Kenjayev was promoted to multiple positions, ranging from chief detective to deputy prosecutor of the Central Asian Railway.
Rahmon Nabiyev
Rahmon Nabiyevich Nabiyev (5 October 1930 – 11 April 1993), was a Tajikistani politician who served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Tajikistan from 1982 to 1985 and twice as the 2nd President of Tajikistan from 23 September 19 ...
elected Kenjayev as the chair of the Supreme Soviet and removed
Qadriddin Aslonov
Qadriddin Aslonov (, also spelled Kadriddin Aslonov; 29 May 1947 – November 1992) was acting President of Tajikistan from 31 August to 23 September 1991.
Aslonov was born on 29 May 1947 in Rasht District, Tajik SSR.
When his predecessor Qahh ...
from the position.
In 1992, the CIS placed restrictions on demonstrations and freedom of the press. The CIS arrested the mayor of Dushabne, Maksud Ikromov on March 6, 1992.
In a televised Supreme Soviet meeting in March 1992, Kenjayev discredited Mamadayaz Navjavanov, the Minister of Internal Affairs, by attacking Navajavanov's ability of breaking up protests. Navajavanov was accused by Kenjayev of discriminating against the Uzbek people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). Kenjayev also questioned Navjavanov's Tajik ethnicity and insulted the
Badakhshan
Badakhshan is a historical region comprising the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan, eastern Tajikistan, and Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in China. Badakhshan Province is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Much of historic ...
population.
After the meeting, the Supreme Soviet dismissed Navjayanov of his duties.
The arrest of Ikromov and the dismissal of Navjayanov initiated the creation of the National Salvation Front alliance. The NSF sought for the ending of the Supreme Soviet and Kenjayev's resignation.
Hiro, Dilip
__NOTOC__
Dilip Hiro (1 March 1932–19 November 2023) was an Indian author, journalist and commentator who specialized in the politics of South Asia and West Asia.
Education: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, M.S., 1964.
...
.
On April 22, 1992, Kenjayev resigned from the Supreme Soviet, and was appointed in charge of the Committee of National Security (CNS). Kenjayev was then reinstated into the Supreme Soviet on May 3, 1992.
Tajikistani Civil War
Dushanbe protests
In protest of Kenjayev's reinstatement, protesters demonstrated outside the legislature building in
Dushanbe
Dushanbe is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Tajikistan. , Dushanbe had a population of 1,564,700, with this population being largely Tajiks, Tajik. Until 1929, the city was known in Russian as Dyushambe, and from 1929 to 1961 as St ...
on May 7, 1992. They called for Kenjayev's dismissal for his alleged corruption and mismanagement. As the
civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
On 24 October 1992, Kenjayev led his army into Dushanbe, attacking the capital's presidential palace and parliament building. More than 150 people died. His forces, in control of the local radio station, proclaimed him the new president. After the coup, Kenjavey addressed the Tajik people, and said he would replace the leadership with a religious free government. Kenjavey also promised he would stop the civil war and restore the Nabiyev government.
After two days of negotiations with the
President of Tajikistan
The president of Tajikistan is the head of state of the Republic of Tajikistan. The president heads the executive branch of the country's government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Tajikistan.
History of the presidency ...
Akbarsho Iskandrov
Akbarsho Iskandarov (born 1 August 1951) is a Tajikistani politician who was twice acting president of Tajikistan. He first served as acting president from October 6, 1991, to December 2, 1991, when Rahmon Nabiyev stepped down to fight Tajikistan ...
, Kenjayev and his troops withdrew from Dushanbe.
Death
On March 30, 1999, three assassins killed Kenjayev, his bodyguard, and his driver in front of an apartment building in Dushanbe.