DUSHANBE, October 3, Asia-Plus - An organization of the Democratic Party (DPT) for Dushanbe intends to demonstrate near the Ministry of Justice in Dushanbe.  They hope to draw attention to what they allege is an illegal ruling by the Ministry of Justice to recognize Masoud

Sobirov as the leader of the party. 

Rajab Mirzo, the head of the DPT organization for Dushanbe, said at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 2, ”We will petition the mayor,” said Mirzo,  “We are sure that representatives from other political parties as well as ordinary people sharing our democratic views will join us.”

Speaking to journalists, the DPT first deputy chairman, Jumaboy Niyozov, stressed that the holding of a transparent, free and democratic presidential election is out of question if the justice authorities commit such violations during the election process “which is considered the main institution of democratic society. If the Ministry of Justice and the Central Commission for Election and Referenda (CCER) put the interests of one group higher than the law, the legitimacy of the upcoming presidential election is under doubt,” Niyozov said. 

DPT representatives also linked the justice ministry’s ruling to recognize Sobirov as the DPT leader to the party’s decision to boycott the vote. ”This decision of the DPT is the main reason for the Justice Ministry’s recognizing Masoud Sobirov as the DPT leader, contrary to the law,” said Niyozov.

“Following this ruling of the ministry, the CCER has put the name of the candidate of this artificially formed group on the list of candidates for president 12 days after his nomination, but under the law the nomination of candidate for president must be sent to the CCER within three days after the nominaton.”