Rakhmanov (or Rakhmonov), Imamali (or Emomali) (1952- )

Tajik politician; head of state from 1992, initially by virtue of his position as chair of the Tajikistan parliament (Supreme Soviet) and then, from 1994, by direct election. Assisted by Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping forces, he brought an end to the 1992-93 civil war and in February 1997 signed a peace agreement with United Tajik Opposition (UTO) Islamic rebels. Directly elected president in November 1994, he ruled in an authoritarian manner, placed tight curbs on opposition and Islamic fundamentalist activities, and developed close links with Russia and Uzbekistan.

Born in Dangara and educated at the Tajik University in Dushanbe, Rakhmanov worked initially as an electrician before becoming a trade-union and communist-party activist and administrator. His support bases were in the Communist Party of Tajikistan (CPT) and the People's Party of Tajikistan (established in 1994).