DUSHANBE, February 22, Asia-Plus – Tajik Embassy in Moscow has assessed a statement by Dodojon Atovulloyev, a Moscow-based Tajik journalist editing Charoghi Rouz, a monthly publication about Tajikistan, about the foundation of Vatandor (Patriot) Movement, which allegedly groups opponents of policy of the incumbent President Emomali Rahmonov, as “ordered attack” and “provocation.”
An official statement released by the Tajik Embassy, in particular, says, “It is noticed that his so-called political activity directly depends on financial difficulties he experiences.” “Who can recognize Dodojon Atovulloyev upholder of interests and aspirations of people, whom he betrayed in essence, being the only ethnic Tajik to support in November 1998 mutiny and killing by bandits of Mahmoud Khdoyberdiyev of hundreds of peaceful residents of the Sughd province of Tajikistan,” the embassy’s statement said.
On the Vatandor Movement, the embassy’s statement says that according to information it has, such movement has not been registered in Russia or in any other CIS state. “Atovulloyev’s hint that the movement allegedly groups “intellectual elite” of Tajikistan, former ministers, ex-premiers and MPs as well as many influential persons is none other that striving for posing desirable as real,” the statement said.
In the interview posted on the website Ferghana.ru, Atovulloyev said that opponents of policy of the incumbent President Emomali Rahmonov had created a movement entitled Vatandor (Patriot). The movement’s motto is “Tajikistan – new path, new power, new ideas, new life.” One of the main demands of the Vatandor Movement is an immediate retirement of President Rahmonov. Otherwise, supporters of the new movement will carry out “violet” revolution in the country.
