Review of press of Tajikistan on parliamentary elections

February 16-18

Election race in Kulob: Tension grows

Newspaper Asia-Plus informed that recently, one of candidates to Majlisi Namoyandagon – deputy director of firm Hamadoni Safarmad Rustamov in the interview on the Kulob TV stated his refusal to continue election campaign. He explained that he "was threatened and pressed upon". He said that last week unknown persons attacked the building of his election office, and the next day a hand grenade was installed as a mine at the door of his sister’s apartment. The sappers of the unit of the 201^st Russian division helped to avoid explosion. Investigation was started on both incidents, and international observers were notified. In his speech on TV Safarmad Rustamov said "I assess the incidents as pressure on me, and I recall my candidature". S.Rustamov did not accuse anybody officially, but it is clear that the election atmosphere in Kulob is getting tense. Two other pretenders – Inom Kholmatov and Mahmadullo Ibodov took off their candidatures without explaining the reason.

Attempt to life of Mayor of Dushanbe Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev

Newspapers Asia-Plus, Vostochni Express and other newspapers reported that Deputy Minister of Security of RT Major-General Shamsullo Jobirov was killed in the act of terrorism in Dushanbe on February 16. The attempt to kill Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev was made at 17:25. The official vehicle of the Mayor was blown near the Republican Clinical Hospital (Kara Bolo). After the meeting with electorate of Frunze district of the city, M.Ubaidulloyev and Shamsullo Jobirov were heading back to their offices. The bomb was installed on the vehicle of the Mayor. M.Ubaidulloyev was wounded with shrapnel and was taken to hospital.

In the evening of the same day, President Emomali Rahmonov had emergency meeting with heads of the parliament, power structures and Central Commission for Elections and Referendum of RT. Head of state assessed the incident as an act of political terrorism, aimed at sabotaging parliamentary elections. The President ordered forming a special team for investigating the incident. Shamsullo Jobirov was a candidate to Majlisi Oli by the list of People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan.

The rights of Islamic Revival Party are being neglected in regions

Newspaper Najot of Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan published an article in which the anonymous author analyzed the process of inclusion of representatives of IRP in district election commissions. He wrote that representatives of IRP have not been included in all election commissions of the Republic. The author connects it with the open arbitrariness of local administrations. The author complained that in some regions of the country IRP is still not recognized officially, in violation of Article 8 of the Law on political Parties and international standards; as a result representatives of the party are denied registration. The journalist wrote that the election commission of IRP had repeatedly applied to competent organizations -–Central Election Commission, Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs. International organizations were also notified of the situation. After the application to Central Election Commission, chairman of CEC Mirzoali Boltuyev had given an order on January 10 to all chairpersons of district election commissions to include one member of IRP in each district commission. However the order was not fulfilled.

Leader of IRP S.A.Nuri met with population of Kurgon-Teppa

Information agency Asia-Plus informed of the meeting of candidates of Islamic Revival Party of RT to Majlisi Oli with the population of Kurgon-Teppa. Leader of IRP Sayeed Abdullo Nuri said at the meeting that the future of Tajikistan would depend on the forthcoming parliamentary elections. He said that the program of IRP is aimed at complete economic and political independence of Tajikistan. "We should first of all utilize the domestic energy resources, build power stations in Rogun and Sangtuda, build small and medium plants, develop agriculture to the proper level. That would allow improve the living standard of the population significantly", - stated S.A.Nuri. "In post-Soviet years we only learned to eat fish, but not catch it. Now we have to be the fishermen and the fish eaters". "Islam does not restrict rights of women to education, work, recreation and political activity".