P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Olimov, Muzaffar
Tajik historian Muzaffar Olimov was born in Isfara in northern Taji-
kistan in 1954.
Olimov graduated from the Tajikistan State University with a degree
in history in 1976. From 1976 to 1984, and again from 1986 to 1993, he

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was a research fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Acad-

emy of Sciences. He was a postgraduate student and later a candidate of
science in the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences
of the Soviet Union. He defended his dissertation and received a doctor-
ate degree from that institution in 1994. From 1993 to 1998, he was the
Head of the Department, Deputy Director of Science, and Senior Re-
search Fellow of the Institute of World Economy and International Re-
lations at the Academy. In 1995, he became a professor of history and
the Chair of the Department of World History at Tajikistan State Uni-
versity. At the same time, he was the Director of the Sharq Information
and Analytical Center as well.
Olimov's research deals with the history of Sind from the 17th to the
early 19th centuries, emphasizing the impact of the era on the ethno-po-
litical and religious makeup of present-day Tajikistan.
Olimov, Rashid
Tajik politician Rashid Qutbiddinovich Olimov, also referred to as
Rashid Olimov, was born in Dushanbe on June 23, 1953. He joined the
CPSU in 1976.
Olimov graduated from Tajikistan State University in 1975. From
1974 to 1979, he was appointed as the Acting Head of the Committee
on Professions at the Tajikistan State University, and Head of the Lec-
turers at the Central Committee of the Lenin Union for Communist
Youth. From 1979 to 1982, he was Instructor of Propaganda and Agita-
tion for the Frunze district of Dushanbe. He served the same purpose for
the Party Committee of Dushanbe as well. From 1982 to 1986, he was
the Acting Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Lecturers for the
Lenin All-Union for Communist Youth. From 1986 to 1989, he was the
First Secretary for the Central Committee of the Lenin Union for Com-
munist Youth.
In 1988, Olimov was appointed first secretary of the Frunze District
Committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan. The following year,
he became the Second Secretary of the Dushanbe City Committee. In
1990 and 1991, he was the Second Secretary of the Communist Party.
In 1992, Olimov was promoted to the position of the Advisor to the
President of the Republic. He was the Minister of Foreign affairs of
Tajikistan from 1992 to 1995, and since 1995 he has been Tajikistan's
Ambassador to the United Nations.

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