DUSHANBE, October 9, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan’s Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) has registered three candidates for president so far.

A meeting of the CCER presided over by its head Mirzoali Boltuyev was held on October 9.  During the meeting it was reported that the commission had still registered three candidates for president.  Among them are incumbent President Emomali Rahmonov nominated by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT), Ismoil Talbakov put forward by the Communist Party (CPT) and Olimjon Boboyev fielded in the election by the Party of Economic Reforms.  The commission also registered 15 representatives of each of the candidates.  The registered candidates, except the incumbent president, and their representatives have received documents certifying their registration.   

During the meeting it was noted that supporters of Emomali Rahmonov had collected 685,244 signatures.  Of them, 22,400 signatures have been selectively checked, and 311 signatures have been found invalid.  

Communists have collected 190,547 signatures to support their candidate.  The commission has selectively checked 20,210 signatures, and 318 signatures have been found invalid.  

Olimjon Boboyev, the leader of the Party of Economic Reforms, has collected 176,132 signatures to register as candidate for president.  The CCER has selectively checked 18,900 signatures, and 354 signatures have been found invalid.  

The CCER also intends to review the issue of refusing registration of Mirhusein Narziyev, the leader of unregistered wing of the Socialist Party (SPT).  

The central electoral commission should consider the issue of registration of candidates from the Agrarian (APT) and Socialist (Adbuhalim Ghafforov-run wing) parties till October 12. 

In the meantime, the CPT candidate for president Ismoil Talbakov said in an interview with Asia-Plus that he will lean for support of members of the CPT, which numbers more than 45,000 members in the country, in future as well.  

The leader of the Party of Economic Reforms, Olimjon Boboyev, also noted that he hopes for backing of the party and its supporters.  “Although our party is still young, but the process of collection of signatures needed to register candidate has shown that we have a certain support in society,” he noted.