DUSHANBE, October 5, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Tajik Association of Reformist Forces (TARF) has called on President Emomali Rahmon to restore the violated electoral rights and freedoms of citizens.
A statement released by the TARF on October 4, in particular, notes that the situation in the country is becoming tense as the October 7 registration deadline approaches.
The statement also notes that discontent of Tajik nationals currently based abroad is growing because their signatures are not allowed.
This practice affects more than 1.5 million Tajik nationals currently based abroad, primarily in Russia, who constitute up to 40 percent of Tajikistan’s 4 million eligible voters, the statement said.
The statement also says the administrative bodies, including the law enforcement agencies, have been mobilized to discredit political forces and public figures that are members of the TARF, and, first of all, the Islamic Revival Party (IRP).
“The idea of holding fair election is under threat and the situation is fraught with serious consequences, because the confidence of the people in the authorities and the people’s hope for democratic transformations will be undermined,” the statement says.
The TARF also applies to international community and international human rights organizations with solicitation to use international legal mechanisms of protection of electoral rights and freedoms of Tajik citizens against illegal actions of Tajikistan’s Central Commission for Elections and Referenda and other bodies.
