Человек, который мечтал построить Рогун. Последнее большое интервью Каххора Махкамова

The late Qahhor Mahkamov, Tajikistan's first president, remains a significant figure in the nation's history, remembered for his modest lifestyle and commitment to public service. In his final interview conducted shortly before his passing in 2016, he reflected on his political career, including the challenging transition period of the early 1990s. Mahkamov credited his formative years in Leningrad for shaping his intellectual outlook and teaching him the importance of active listening in leadership. Despite his reputation for being forgiving and approachable, he expressed deep regret regarding the political obstruction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant project. He believed that misguided nationalist rhetoric from his contemporaries ultimately stalled the development of this critical infrastructure. Even in his later years, he maintained that his decision to resign during the 1990 protests was a tactical choice made under immense pressure from Moscow.

The interview offers a rare, personal perspective from Tajikistan's first head of state on the political instability of the post-Soviet era and the long-standing national ambition to complete the Rogun Dam.