Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 31st January

The Central Electoral Commission [CEC] of Tajikistan has called on
candidates for the parliamentary elections to observe the law and refrain
from campaign controversies. Asked about the protest from a candidate from
the Uroteppa elections district [in northern Tajikistan], the Tajik CEC
chairman [Mirzoali Boltuyev] said that, at a time when the registration of
candidates was under way, this act was a kind of campaign controversy.
Mirzoali Boltuyev added that, in line with Tajik elections legislation, in
the event of candidates being refused registration, they have the right to
sue and it would be better if they used their constitutional rights instead
of disputes. According to the officials of the disbanded Democratic Party
of Tajikistan [of Tehran faction], a candidate from the party in the
Uroteppa constituency, Rustam Fayziyev, went on hunger strike in protest
against the CEC's refusal to register him.

The CEC chairman added that some candidates themselves do not observe the
election legislation on submitting documents and then complain about the
work of the CEC. He said that the presentation of an incorrect list of
candidates' supporters was among the problems and added that, in line with
the law, when 30 per cent of the signatures submitted on the list are
false, then the candidate will not be registered despite the rest of the
signatures. He further said that independent candidates must submit 500
signatures of their supporters in order to participate in the elections and
there would be no need to refer to an earlier list which was possibly
incorrect.

The elections [to the lower chamber] of parliament of Tajikistan, which is
to be the first permanent parliament in the country, will be held on 27th
February this year.

Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Persian 1600 gmt
31 Jan 00
BBC Mon CAU 010200/** GAR/MI