Late 1980s

Mikhail Gorbachev promotes "Glasnost," a policy of open discussion about political and social issues

1990

Law on Press and Other Media Communication adopted. Journalists enjoyed freedom of speech.

May, 1992

Tajik Civil war breaks out between eastern opposition groups and the president Rahmon Nabiyev.

1996

Paging and mobile services are introduced in Tajikistan, but mobile phones do not attract many customers until 2000.

Late 1990s to early 2000

The government seizes control of state TV and radio stations, making them tools of propaganda.

2004

Persian language blogs emerge, containing articles about Tajik language, culture and politics. More emerge in 2007, sparking political conversation.

July, 2012

Tajik government launches an operation in the Badakhshan province after a member of the National Security Committee of Tajikistan is murdered by local men. The internet is shut off to the entire region, inhibiting communications. Protests of the government's actions ensued on social media.

2013

Political discussion about the coming presidential elections is widespread on social media. Opposition members "boycott" the election because the lack off opposition candidates. The government is criticized for taking measures to ensure no competitive opponent runs against Rahmon.

December, 1922

Tajikistan becomes part of The Soviet Union

July, 1989

Tajik is declared the official language of the region

December, 1991

Tajikistan gains independence with the dissolution of the USSR.

December, 1992

Emomali Rahmanov (Rahmon) is installed in Nabiyev's place after his forced resignation.

June, 1997

A peace agreement between opposition leader Sayed Abdullah Nouri and President Rahmon ends civil war. Between 50 and 150 thousand lives were lost, including 60-75 journalists.

Fall 2001

Killing of journalists subsides with the launch of the global war on terror and the rearrangement of world politics. Independent media sources emerge.

Spring 2010

Tajiks turn to Facebook to watch the events of the Arab Spring unfold. Facebook becomes a widely used social media for political and social discussion.

May, 2013

A video of President Rahmon dancing at his son's wedding is broadcast on K+ TV and spread on YouTube. Rahmon blocks the internet for several days, but still receives criticism for his inability to run a party, let alone a country, and for violating the Tajik law regulating spending on weddings and ceremonies.

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