An extraordinary congress of the Party of Economic Reforms of Tajikistan (PERT) took place at the Russian-Tajik Slavic University (RTSU) in Dushanbe on July 20 to review the party’s annual and five-year activities, an official source within the party told Asia-Plus in an interview.
Besides, the head of the party faction in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) reported on the faction’s activities, the source said.
According to him, heads of the party’s organizations in the regions reported on their activities.
The 48-year-old Ghiyosiddin Ashourzoda was elected the new leader of the party, replacing the 64-year-old Rustam Qudratov, who had headed the party since 2019.
The source says Qudratov will continue party activities as deputy chairman of the PERT.
RTSU Rector Mashrab Faizullo reportedly retained the post of first deputy party leader.
Ms. Sarvinoz Majidova and Mr. Haidar Rahmatzoda were elected deputy chairpersons of the party.
Giyosiddin Ashourzoda was born on Amy 3, 1976 in Hisor district. He graduated from the Tajik Institute of Commerce in 1999 with a degree in international economic relations. For many years, Ashourzoda was engaged in teaching activities at various universities of the country.
Ghiyosiddin Ashourzoda is member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon.
The Party of Economic Reforms is one of seven political parties officially functioning in Tajikistan.
The Party of Economic Reforms (PERT; Tajik: Hizbi Islohoti Eqtisodi) is officially registered centrist party in Tajikistan. Formed by Olimjon Boboyev, the then Rector of the Institute of Transport, it was registered with the Ministry of Justice on November 9, 2005. The party reportedly united in its ranks mainly scientists-economists and young professionals working in various sectors of the economy and its aims are to reduce poverty, conduct proper privatizations, and attract foreign investment.
According to some source, the party now has 33,000 members.
At the presidential election in 2006, the party nominated Olimjon Boboyev. Boboyev took a sensational second place, collecting 190,148 (6.2%) votes. In 2013, at the presidential election in Tajikistan, the party again nominated the party leader, Olimjon Boboyev. He took fifth place, collecting 140,733 (3.91%) votes.
At the presidential elections in 2020, the party nominated Rustam Rahmatzoda, who had headed the PERT since 2019. He took third place, collecting 90,918 (2.7%) of votes.
As far as the parliamentary elections are concerned, PERT participated in the parliamentary elections in in 2010, 2015 and 2020.
In February 2010, the party won 5.6% of the vote and entered the parliament, receiving the right to secure two seats.
In March 2015, PERT took part in the parliamentary elections in Tajikistan for the second time in its history. As a result of the elections, the party won 7.5% of the vote, taking third place, and entered the parliament of Tajikistan, receiving three seats.
In 2020, the Party of Economic Reforms won 16.6% of the vote and secured five seats in the parliamentary elections, including four seats won by the party list and one seat won in a single-mandate constituency.
Meanwhile, the country’s authorities have placed pressure on political parties functioning in Tajikistan. The leader of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan (DPT) Saidjafar Usmonzoda was replaced in May and he was arrested on June 14 for allegedly “plotting to overthrow the government.” First Deputy Chairman of the DPT Ahmadshoh Komilzoda, who is also a well-known journalist, was detained on June 15. The details surrounding his arrest remain murky as law enforcement authorities have not made any official statements and his family members were unavailable for comment.
On July 12, First Deputy Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) Shokirjon Hakimov, who is also a noted Tajik lawyer, was detained. According to some sources, Hakimov's detention was linked to the arrest of the ex-leader of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan Saidjafar Usmonzoda.
