TAJIKISTAN: MOJ COMES A BIT MORE CLEAN ON REGISTRATIONS

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001742

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: MOJ COMES A BIT MORE CLEAN ON REGISTRATIONS

REF: DUSHANBE 1596


1. (U) The weekly Tajik-language newspaper, "Zindagi,"
published excerpts October 27 from a recent Ministry of Justice
press conference in which a Tajik official noted that some
foreign NGOs had activities "beyond the framework of their
charters." Isroil Shoyev, Chief, Department of Legal Entity and
Judicial Entity, offered that as a reason why the U.S. NGOs,
Freedom House and National Democratic Institute (NDI),remained
unregistered.


2. (U) In addition to NGO issues, the press conference
addressed political party and other registration issues.
Sumangul Taghoeva, Chief, Department on Registration of Public
Associations, stated the Ministry had received registration
papers of two new parties: the Party of Economic Reforms and
Agrarian Party and anticipated registering the Progressive Youth
Party (reftel). (NOTE: There was no mention of another party
seeking registration for the second year, Vadhat or "Unity".
END NOTE.) The ministry also announced it had registered and
licensed the activities of eight unnamed publications, and two
unnamed radio and TV stations.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: All conventional wisdom to the contrary,
previous official explanations about Freedom House and NDI's
registration woes have always focused on technical issues, not
their activities in Tajikistan. That an MOJ official is now
publicly questioning NDI and Freedom House's projects fits into
the trend of increased government scrutiny of any
pro-democracy-read "Western"-activities. As usual, the
government is using legalism to justify political decisions.
END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND


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