PHOTO ESSAY: A peaceful Tajikistan prepares to mark 35 years of independence

Tajikistan approaches its 35th anniversary of independence, with Khujand's Panjshanbe Bazaar reflecting the country's blend of Soviet-era infrastructure and Islamic motifs. President Emomali Rahmon has led since 1992, following a civil war, and the region remains peaceful, reliant on remittances from Russia. A 2011 move of Lenin's statue and rising tourism highlight efforts to balance historical identity with contemporary development.