Tajik Opposition Party To Boycott Presidential Election

Tajikistan's opposition Social Democratic Party says it will boycott this month's presidential election.

In a statement issued on November 1, the party said the campaign is being held amid "violations of the constitution" and with "state-organized falsifications."

The statement criticized the Central Election Commission for not allowing candidates to collect signatures from among the thousands of Tajik migrants working abroad.

It was also critical of obstacles it says the commission put in place that prevented the Tajik opposition's single candidate, Oinihol Bobonazarova, from successfully registering for the November 6 vote.

The statement said the five presidential candidates who are taking part in the poll along with incumbent Emomali Rahmon are not well known but were nevertheless able to collect the necessary number of signatures to get registered.


Based on reporting by asiaplus.tj and Interfax