Chamber:
	Shuroi Oly
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	26 February 1995 12 March 1995
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the new Parliament provided for in the November 1994 Constitution.
Background and outcome of elections:
	General elections for the former 230-member Supreme Soviet took place in February 1990. In September 1991, independence from the then-USSR was declared. In October 1992, a nation-wide state of emergency was introduced as a civil war raged between government forces and an Islamic/democratic alliance rebel group; this state continued until August 1994. On 6 November 1994, a new Constitution providing for a presidential system of government and a smaller national legislature was approved by popular referendum. The same day, Mr. Imamoli Rakhamanov, already Chairman of the Supreme Soviet and interim Head of State (since December 1992), won the presidential election in convincing fashion over former Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullojanov as the poll was boycotted by Islamic opposition groups. This lack of participation raised international concern and led to allegations of vote-rigging by the old-line communist forces in power. Scepticism as to fairness of the voting procedure carried over into the legislative poll in February, when a number of international organisations refused to act as observers. Again, the elections were widely boycotted by opponents to President Rakhamanov, including the newly formed Party of Popular Unity and Justice headed by Mr. Abdullojanov. Altogether 354 candidates – many of them administrators at various State levels – and four parties were in the running. The electorate, turning out at an approximate rate of 84%, returned many candidates with no overt party affiliation as well as about 60 of the Communist Party of Tajikistan as a total of 161 seats were filled; 40% of the seats were reportedly uncontested. In the 20 remaining constituencies, candidates failed to capture the minimum number of votes required, thus necessitating a second round of voting on 12 March. The first session of the newly elected Parliament opened on 6 April. The Prime Minister is Mr. Jamshed Karimov, who had been appointed on 2 December 1994 when the Cabinet was reshuffled.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (26 February 1995): Elections results
Number of registered electors	2,684,000 (approx.)
Voters	84% (approx.)

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Communist Party of Tajikistan	60
People’s Party of Tajikistan	5
Party of Popular Unity and Accord	2
Tajikistan Party of Economic and Political Renewal	1

Comments:
	Figures given are unconfirmed. No data on remaining seats.

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	176
Women:	5