DUSHANBE, July 3, 2013, Asia-Plus – Non-observance by the Tajik authorities of electoral recommendations presented by the previous annual OSCE Preparatory Human Dimension Implementation Meetings caused lively discussions at the annual OSCE Preparatory Human Dimension Implementation Meeting that took place in Dushanbe on July 2.
Speaking at the meeting, Rahmatillo Zoirov, leader of the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT), noted that the OSCE had presented participants in the previous meetings with ten recommendations for democratic elections. The Tajik authorities have not fulfilled those electoral recommendations, SDPT leader noted.
According to him, those recommendations included elaboration and adoption of a new presidential election law, ensuring organization and holding of free, fair and transparent presidential election in 2013, ensuring equal participation in formation of electoral commissions and prevention of interference of local executive authorities in the voting process.
Zoirov considers that the current presidential election law, which was adopted in 1994, is absolutely anti-constitutional and is not due to be implemented in accordance with Part 2 of Article 10 of the Constitution of Tajikistan.
“Taking all this into consideration, we demanded in 2011 that the new presidential election law be adopted,” said Zoirov. “Unfortunately, this proposal that was among the OSCE electoral recommendations was ignored.”
Meanwhile, representative of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), Nourullo Mahmadulloyev, noted that the majority of the OSCE electoral recommendations had been taken into consideration and fulfilled.
“The Commission analyzed these recommendations during two months and took them into account, with the exception of the recommendation for working out and adopting the new presidential election law, because consideration of this issue is outside the Commission’s competence,” Mahmadulloyev said.
Meanwhile, Muzaffar Ashourov, the Head of the Department of Constitutional Guarantees of Citizen Rights at President’s Executive Office assured those present that the upcoming presidential election would be free, fair and transparent and be held in accordance with the country’s law.
