DUSHANBE, April 8, 2010, Asia-Plus — Current events in Kyrgyzstan were practically inevitable, known Tajik religious leader Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who came to power in Kyrgyzstan in the 2005 Tulip Revolution, made the same mistakes of which he had accused Kyrgyzstan’s first post-Soviet president, Askar Akayev.
“Five years ago, Bakiyev and his supporters accused Akayev of regionalism and nepotism, saying that his relatives had controlled all the country’s property,” said Mr. Turajonzoda, “If the press are to be trusted, now Bakiyev himself is accused of the same sins.”
Turajonzoda notes that Bakiyev was seeking amendments to Kyrgyzstan’s Constitution requiring expansion of his powers lately. “Besides, arrest of the opposition leaders could also fill up the cup of patience of people who did not want to leave everything the way it is.”
He added that Tajik authorities must draw correct conclusions about the Kyrgyz events. “Tajik authorities ought to establish close contacts with leaders of different political movements functi0oning in the country and try to hear them and pay more attention to holding fair and transparent elections in order to avoid such civil confrontations,” Turajonzoda added.
He considers that Tajik society that had gone through the civil war troubles will keep silence for the sake of peace and tranquility in the country, “though it has what to say.”
