DUSHANBE, August 28, Asia-Plus -- An extraordinary congress of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan (DPT) held in Dushanbe on August 27 elected new chairman and managing board of the party. 

Two candidates were nominated to the post of chairman of the party: Masoud Sobirov, initiator of formation of a "Vatan” (Homeland) faction within the party, and Saidrahmat Nabizoda, the head of the DPT organization for the Hamadoni district (Khatlon province). Of 68 delegates participating in the congress’ work, 60 voted for Masoud Sobirov.  

As it had reported earlier, Masoud Sobirov held a news conference to announce the formation of the Vatan faction within the party in late March this year.  On August 23, the DPT board hosted a news conference on the subject of convocation of the party’s extraordinary congress.  The DPT board assessed actions of an initiative group for convocation of the party’s extraordinary congress as actions of persons being not aware of the country’s laws and the party’s rules.  Members of the DPT board accused Masoud Sobirov of forging list of the party members that allegedly signed a statement for convocation of the extraordinary congress of the DPT.   .

Mr. Sobirov said in his interview with Asia-Plus that representatives from the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, UN agencies active in Tajikistan, as well as “former leadership of the DPT” and media had attended the congress.  “The congress also elected two deputy chairmen of the party – Saidjaffar Ismonov and Tabarali Ziyoyev,” said Mr. Sobirov, “We have still declared a break in the congress’ work and intend to register the new managing board of the party’s leadership with the Ministry of Justice.”  “We will continue the congress’ work on September 30 to determine our position and strategy in the upcoming presidential election set for November this year,” Mr. Sobirov noted.   

In the meantime, the present managing board of the DPT intends to give a news conference on the party’s extraordinary congress today.