DUSHANBE, November 1, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Political Council has decided to boycott the upcoming presidential election in Tajikistan and not to accept the results of “illegal and sham election that contradicts the country’s Constitution,” a statement released by the party said.
According to the statement, the SDP has decided to make such a step after thoroughly analyzing the process of organization of the 2013 presidential election.
Since there is no constructive political will, this important event is being held with violation of the Constitution on the basis of the state-organized falsifications, the statement noted.
According to the SDP Political Council, the 2013 presidential election is illegitimate because it is held on the basis of imperfect and unfair law creating unequal conditions for political parties and candidates and because of falsifications during the signature-gathering process and deprivation of 1.5 million migrations of the right to participate of the signature-gathering process.
The SDP notes that Tajikistan has faced constitutional crisis during the presidential election and “speculative results of illegal and sham election pose threat to the constitutional order, national security and public management.”
“Therefore, the SDP will not accept the results of illegal and sham election that constricts the Constitution, national interests and democratic values, and will boycott the 2013 presidential election scheduled for November 6,” the statement said.
Founded in 2002, the Social-Democratic Party was registered on December 20, 2002. It was originally registered as the Party of Justice and Development in 1999. Tajikistan”s Ministry of Justice requested the same year that the Supreme Court ban the party”s activities and its registration was canceled. The party re-emerged and was registered under the name of the Social-Democratic Party in late 2002. Chairman of the Social-Democratic Party is Rahmatillo Zoirov and the party reportedly has 7,700 members.
