APT includes 15 candidates in its party list of the 2015 parliamentary election

DUSHANBE, December 21, 2014, Asia-Plus — The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) has included 15 candidates in its party list for election to Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament that will take place on March 1, 2015.

“The APT congress that took place in Dushanbe on December 18 approved the list of candidates included in the party list,” APT activist Munim Abdusamadov told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The following members of the APT were included in the party list:

1. APT leader Rustam Latifzoda, corresponding member of the Engineering Academy of Tajikistan; 
2. Mirzoanvar Ahmadov, deputy head of the Sughd Agriculture Department;
3. Academician Tolibbek Bukhoriyev, Vice-President of the Academy of Agriculture of Tajikistan;
4. Mahbouba Shoazizova, Deputy Director of the Institute of Agrarian Economics, the Academy of Agriculture of Tajikistan;
5. Munim Abdusamadov, full member of the Engineering Academy of Tajikistan;
6. Zayniddin Safarov, deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon;
7. Hikmatullo Nazrirov;
8. Zulfiya Mirzozoda;
9. Ahmad Qobilov, Deputy Governor of Sughd Province;

10.  Nematullo Kholmurodov; Deputy Head of the Jomi District, Khatlon Province;

11.  Mavsouma Abdulloyeva;

12.  Nourali Niyozov;

13.  Abdukarim Fayzulloyev;

14.  Mehnatullo Sirojev;

15.  Abdulasan Mamadasanov.

The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) is the brainchild of its first chairman Amir Qaraqulov.  Rustam Latifzoda was elected chairman of the Agrarian Party in March this year after Amir Qaraqulov’s death.

The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan was registered with the Ministry of Justice in November 2005.  Like the Party of Economic Reforms that was also registered with the Ministry of Justice in November 2005, the Agrarian Party is seen as a “pocket party.”  In 2010, the APT won two seats in the Majlisi Namoyandagon.

According to some source, the APT now has some 49,000 members.  The majority of APT”s members are farmers and peasants, but the upper echelon are agriculture specialists.

The AP has no clear ideological outline, and mainly focuses on the issue of agricultural production.  The party advocates for a halt in export of raw materials from Tajikistan, and for the country to switch to the production and export of finished products.