DUSHANBE, September 24, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday September 24, Mr. Shermuhammad Shohiyon, the head of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), had a telephone conversation with Ms. Oynihol Bobonazarva, a candidate of the Tajik Association of Reformist Forces (TARF) for president.
Abduqayum Qayumzod, a spokesman for the TARF, says Mr. Shohiyon has promised to solve all problems connected with collection of signatures to support candidates.
For her part, Ms. Bobonazarova reportedly thanked the CCER head for the prompt reply to her statement and asked him to take the signature collection situation under his control and ensure observance of legality.
The conversation took place after Ms. Bobonazarova released a statement on September 23.
We will recall that Ms. Bobonazarova expressed concern about “mass and gross violation of electoral rights of citizens.” She, in particular, notes that deterioration of pre-election situation in the country resulting from the gross violation of electoral rights of citizens evokes serious concern.
According to her, limitation of constitutional rights of some 1.5 million Tajik nationals working abroad, who constitute more than 35 percent of the total number of electoral voters in Tajikistan, has shown a sustainable trend.
Ms. Bobonazarova also considers that polling stations set up abroad are not enough to ensure access of more than one million people to the voting process. The TARF single candidate for president also says that local authorities interfere with voting process.
In her statement, Ms. Oynihol Bobonazarova called on President Emomali Rahmon to ensure observance of laws and creation of all necessary conditions for organization and holding of really democratic elections in the country.
A coalition of Tajik opposition groups has nominated Oynihol Bobonazarova to be their candidate for president in elections scheduled for November 6. The TARF made the announcement on September 9. Bobonazarova”s candidacy was officially recognized by the association on September 10.
Bobonazarova”s program reportedly includes constitutional reforms, namely shortening the presidential term and limiting terms in office to a maximum of two. Her platform also targets the transfer of some presidential powers to the legislative and executive branches.
