Tajikistan

Country Spotlight

Tajikistan does not possess nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons and is party to relevant nonproliferation treaties and organizations. Like other nations in Central Asia, Tajikistan faces nonproliferation challenges shaped by its Soviet legacy and porous borders, raising concern of the potential for smuggling of WMD-related materials. Active in ongoing efforts to minimize CBRN threats to international security.

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Region Former Soviet Union

1,000,000 Metric tons of uranium ore processed annually by the Vostokredmet facility at its height

54.8 Million tons of radioactive waste (tailings) from Soviet era mining activities

$6.5 Million in assistance provided by IAEA for projects such as uranium waste disposal

Nuclear

Pursuing the refurbishment and reactivation of never-activated Argus nuclear research reactor in Dushanbe with Russian and Chinese assistance
Interested in reactivating major uranium mining and processing site, the Vostochnyy Rare Metal Industrial Association (Vostokredmet), inherited from the Soviet Union
Has taken steps and received international support from U.S., Russia, and others for improving border security to prevent smuggling of nuclear materials

Biological

No evidence that it participated in Soviet biological weapons research, and is party to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)
Retains a still-active regional Anti-Plague (AP) facility in Dushanbe
Researchers at the AP facility destroyed their pathogen cultures during the 1992-1997 civil war to prevent their use as biological weapons if seized by warring factions

Missile

Does not possess any ballistic missiles and lacks the domestic capability to produce them
Operated a facility during the USSR that produced rocket motors for Soviet strategic missiles
Party to Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation
Received two divisions of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia in 2023

Chemical

Does not possess chemical weapons
Has industrial capability to produce CW precursors but has no intention of doing so
Produces dual-use chemicals but follows relevant CW regulations
Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

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Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

The CIS is an association that coordinates the facilitation of free movement of goods, services, labor force, and capital between member states. It also promotes cooperation on security matters.

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Central Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ)

The Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ) made formerly-Soviet Central Asia, a Nuclear-Weapons-Free-Zone under the Semipalatinsk Treaty.

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NPT

The NPT is a treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons through the three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

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Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)

The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) focuses on the physical protection of peaceful use of nuclear materials.

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Analysis

on Tajikistan

Sam Nunn Discusses US-Russia Relations on Bloomberg TV

Transcript Jan 30, 2019

Sam Nunn Discusses US-Russia Relations on Bloomberg TV

Sam Nunn, co-founder and co-chair of NTI and former U.S. Senator from Georgia, spoke with Bloomberg’s David Westin on “Bloomberg Markets: Balance of Power,” on January 29, 2019. Sam Nun commented on the state of U.S. relations with Russia.