On February 12 – 14 , 1990 , anti-government riots took place in Tajikistan 's capital , Dushanbe , as tensions rose between nationalist Tajiks and ethnic Armenian refugees , after the Sumgait pogrom and anti-Armenian riots in Azerbaijan in 1988 . During these riots , demonstrations sponsored by the nationalist Rastokhez movement turned violent . Radical economical and political reforms were demanded by the protesters which in turned torched government buildings ; shops and other businesses were attacked and looted . 26 people were killed and 565 people were injured
Sumgait pogrom
Sumgait pogrom
Dissolution of the Soviet Union