DUSHANBE, March 1, 2010, Asia-Plus — The Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) today hosted a news conference regarding the February 28 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan.
Speaking to reporters, IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri noted that the elections were undemocratic and non-transparent.
He demonstrated a batch of forged ballot papers and other documents as an evidence of the fact that falsifications had taken place during the voting.
“If our claims are not taken into account in the near future, we will take decisive steps within the framework of the country’s legislation,” IRPT leader stated, noting that such violations are inadmissible in democratic society and today’s Tajikistan.
Along with the Communist Party (CPT), IRPT, which is the only Islamic party registered in Central Asia, is considered as one of the main contenders to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT).
Radio Liberty reported on February 28 that IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri says he is discouraged by what he saw during the election day. “We hoped that these elections would be better in comparison to the elections of 2005. But unfortunately, according to reports we received in our election headquarters from polling stations, authorities in districts are still not ready for transparent and democratic elections,” Kabiri said. According to RFE/RL, news agencies quoted Kabiri as saying his supporters have registered numerous violations, including multiple voting and obstruction of the work of electoral observers and poll workers. Kabiri said he believed his party could have won 10 seats in parliament in a fair vote. The party has two seats in the outgoing parliament.
