DUSHANBE, July 18, 2013, Asia-Plus — Speaking at a news conference in Dushanbe, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi yesterday downplayed Dodojon Atovulloyev’s role and impact.
“Tajikistan is a free country and its nationals may freely speak about any issues related to political, economic and social life of the country,” said Zarifi. “Therefore, we cannot condemn anybody for cooperation with Tajik journalist Hamrokhon Zarifi, who lives outside the country.”
He further noted that “the people of Tajikistan today has its own wits about itself without prompt of persons such as Atovulloyev.”
We will recall that Tajik opposition journalist Dodojon Atovulloyev denied entry at Moscow”s Sheremetyevo Airport and was asked to buy a ticket to Prague, Czech Republic, the city he arrived from on July 15.
Asked whether he will participate in this year’s presidential election, Zarifi said, “I do not have talent to run a country.”
He also expressed confidence that the upcoming presidential election would be transparent and democratic. “Even if there are attempts of interference from outside, the election will be held in calm,” Zarifi stressed.
On the issue that Tajik nationals are fighting in territories of other countries, Zarifi said, “Such things happen because Tajik nationals living abroad are not able to properly assess the events taking place there.” “Thus, in Syria, as far as we know, Tajik nationals are fighting both on the side of the government force and the rebels,” the minister noted.
