DUSHANBE, July 3, 2013, Asia-Plus – Tajik opposition political parties and representatives of civil society have set up the Working Group (WG) for participation in the upcoming presidential election in the country.

A decision to set up the WG was made a meeting that took place at headquarters of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) in Dushanbe on July 2.

The WG members include IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri, Social-Democratic Party (SDP) leader Rahmatillo Zoirov, SDP deputy head Shokirjon Hakimov, prominent Tajik religious figure Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda, as well as representatives of the Dushanbe Barristers’ Association and some other public figures.

The meeting participants also made a decision to set up the Facebook group to determine what kind of president people want.

Speaking at the meeting, IRP leader Kabiri noted that only four months were left before the presidential election, and “this event will define whether Tajikistan will become a developed and rule-of-law state or it will remain lagging, authoritarian and corrupt state.”

“The main objective of all political parties, public associations and civil activists is in building rule-of-law and democratic state,” Kabiri said.

He further added that the WG would hold meetings.  “We have little time left and only a couple of months remain to nominate candidates,” said IRP leader.  “It is not a matter of any specific candidate now.  We need a brave person who would not abandon the chosen path in case of pressure on him.  The candidate must also offer the program that would comply with the interests of the IRP, the Communist Party (CPT), the SDP and other nationals of Tajikistan.”

Ms. Saodat Olimova, an expert in issues of labor migration in Central Asia’s nations, said she was pessimistic about holding of transparent presidential election, “but the situation has changed this year, and therefore, there is reason in nominating candidates.”

Lawyer Fayzinisso Vohidova, noted that political parties should not confine themselves to nominating only one candidate.  According to her, several candidates with different programs are needed.  “Each political party should offer its own program,” said the lawyer.

She noted nearly 2 million Tajik labor migrants were currently working in Russia and the opposition political parties should work with them.

“Why do not political parties work with labor migrants, who have worked in Russia and Kazakhstan for many years and seen how elections are held in those countries?  Their legal awareness has risen.  They have felt that they are able to ensure holding of such transparent elections in Tajikistan as well.  We have less than 50 percent of voters inside the country.  We have only 120,000 opponents.  Why we should be afraid of them?”