A country of south-central Asia. The region was settled by the Tajik before the 10th century and conquered by Mongols in the 13th century. By the mid-19th century it was divided among several weak khanates. The region was acquired by Russia in 1895 and was a constituent republic of the USSR from 1929 to 1991, when it declared its independence. Dushanbe is the capital and the largest city. Population: 5,993,000.
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