Tajikistan urgently needs to focus on economic and social development, the European Union's Special Envoy to Central Asia, Patricia Flor believes.
"It comes along with civil rights -- because if you look at human rights, economic and social rights are part of that," she said in an interview with Radio Free Europe.
She said she understands that for many people that if it's about not having heating in the winter or not having enough income to sustain your family, then this is a priority concern.
For Tajikistan this should really be one of the main policy goals for the future, Flor said.
"I believe, that would work better the more you have everyone participating -- so, the more you have local government and the possibility for regions to better decide what is beneficial for them, the better you can then sustain social and economic development," she added.
EU: Tajikistan needs to focus on economic development