The Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) marks its 22nd anniversary today.
SDPT leader Rahmatillo Zoyirov told Asia-Plus about main achievements and problems of the party.
On February 5, 199, the party was registered with Ministry of Justice as the Party of Party of Justice and Development (Hizbi Adolat va Taraqqiyot).
“That time, democratic tendencies still prevailed over authoritarian ones in Tajikistan due to the peace and national accord agreement that was signed between the Government and the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) on June 27, 1997,” Zoyirov said.
SDPT leader considers that today’s main achievement of the party is people’s trust in the SDPT.
“People come to us with their problems, they tell us their aspirations, and they tell us what they cannot tell government officials. They are not afraid to communicate with the opposition party, they are not afraid to join our ranks and this is the main achievement of the SDPT,” Zoyirov noted.
According to him, the main problem facing the party is distrust of government structures in the SDPT.
Founded in 2002, the Social-Democratic Party was registered on December 20, 2002. It was originally registered as the Party of Justice and Development on February 5, 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 Zoyirov and the party reportedly has about 8,000 members.
