I was at the the Intourist Hotel in Dushambe in 1994. Two full floors were occupied by the Russian contingent.
I remember the first thing that the concierge told me:
' Sir, I recommend to stay away from the bar in the evening; in the last two weeks some custumers got 'accidentally' shot!'
atseacliff,
In those days I believe that your hotel was a Government guesthouse. Nice rooms with wall paper but a bit eerie atmosphere.