Some of the thousands of refugees who fled to Afghanistan have been repatriated, but Tajik refugees still flee to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as fighting continues. The constitution, adopted by referendum in 1994, provides for a strong executive who serves as head of parliament with broad powers to appoint and dismiss officials.
Elections are unmonitored and considered fraudulent.
Executions of academics and doctors have also mysteriously occurred. Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries of the Former Soviet Union. It has high unemployment, the highest rate of population growth, and widespread disease. These factors, as well as the loss of Soviet subsidies, contribute to the very low standard of living, and continuing need for international humanitarian assistance. Industry consists mainly of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities and small light-industry factories.