Safarali Kenjayev (18 February 1942 – 30 March 1999) was a Tajik politician who served as the Speaker of the
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet (russian: Верховный Совет, Verkhovny Sovet, Supreme Council) was the common name for the legislative bodies (parliaments) of the Soviet socialist republics (SSR) in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ...
in
Tajikistan 1991–1992, Chairman of the Tajik Parliament's committee on
human rights and legislation, and as head of the
Socialist Party of Tajikistan, which he founded.
[Tajikistan: Controversial figure killed]
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty[Tajikistan Votes 2005]
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Early life
Kenjayev was born in 1942 in the
Panjakent District.
He was a member of the
Yaghnobi community.
Career
Law
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.
Politics
After the
1991 presidential election,
Rahmon Nabiyev
Rahmon Nabiyevich Nabiyev, also spelled Rakhmon Nabiev ( tg, Раҳмон Набиев; russian: Рахмон Набиевич Набиев), (5 October 1930 – 11 April 1993) was a Tajik politician who served as the First Secretary of the Comm ...
elected Kenjayev as the chair of the Supreme Soviet and removed
Qadriddin Aslonov from the position.
In 1992, the
CIS
Cis or cis- may refer to:
Places
* Cis, Trentino, in Italy
* In Poland:
** Cis, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central
** Cis, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, north
Math, science and biology
* cis (mathematics) (cis(''θ'')), a trigonome ...
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 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, born in Larkana, Pakistan is an Indian author, journalist, and commentator who specializes on the politics of South Asia and Middle East.
Career
Hiro was the chief analyst on the Middle Eastern, Central Asian, South Asian ...
.
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 on May 7, 1992. They called for Kenjayev's dismissal for his alleged corruption and mismanagement.
[ As the civil war broke out, Kenjayev and other leaders formed the Popular Front of Tajikistan.][Lansford, Tom. ]
Attempted coup
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 Akbarsho Iskandrov
Akbarsho Iskandarov (born 1 August 1951) is a Tajik 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's fi ...
, 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.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kenjayev, Safarali
1999 deaths
People murdered in Tajikistan
Assassinated Tajikistani politicians
Deaths by firearm in Tajikistan
Communist Party of Tajikistan politicians
Socialist Party of Tajikistan politicians
Members of the Supreme Assembly (Tajikistan)
Tajik National University alumni
1942 births
People from Sughd Region