Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE2044
2006-11-08 13:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:  

POLITICAL PARTIES REACT TO RAHMONOV'S WIN

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TI 
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UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002044 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: POLITICAL PARTIES REACT TO RAHMONOV'S WIN

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002044

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: POLITICAL PARTIES REACT TO RAHMONOV'S WIN


1. (U) Tajik president Emomali Rahmonov won 79.3 percent of
the vote in the November 6 election. Although his popularity is
genuine among the people, opposition parties remain vocal in
criticizing the election and will continue to express
dissatisfaction with the current president and call him
illegitimate.


2. (U) The Democratic Party of Tajikistan and the Social
Democratic Party of Tajikistan did not recognize the results of
the election, as they had announced prior to the election when
both groups decided to boycott the process. The Social
Democratic Party of Tajikistan considers the election illegal
and unconstitutional. This has been the center of the party's
platform and grounds for it to boycott the election. The
chairman of the party, Rahmatullo Zoyirov, is the country's
preeminent constitutional lawyer. He dismissed international
observers saying the question of whether or not the election was
transparent and democratic does not matter. He argued that the
legitimacy of the election is a judicial issue that must be
settled by the court system.


3. (U) Four members of Iskandarov's faction of the Democratic
Party of Tajikistan were arrested two days prior to the election
for demonstrating in front of the Ministry of Justice. Deputy
Chairman Valiev disagreed with the demonstration and told
embassy sources that party members were ill-advised. Protests
and demonstrations are illegal in Tajikistan, but the group was
told that demonstrating was not punishable. The members'
arrests add to the party's woes over its split into two
different factions and overshadows the party's post-election
goals.


4. (U) The Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan sent a
limited number of observers to polling stations and members
participated on some election commissions throughout Tajikistan.
The party criticized the election for violations and questioned
the high 91 percent voter turnout. The IRPT will issue a report
based on its observers' findings and announce whether it will
recognize Rahmonov's win.


RAHMONOV'S "OPPONENTS" CONGRATULATE HIM


5. (U) Not surprisingly, all four presidential candidates who
ran against Rahmonov from what are considered "pocket parties"
congratulated the president on his victory. The Party of
Economic Reforms chairman was happy his party received the
second highest number of votes, despite being a young party,
less than one year old. All parties expressed satisfaction with
the results and voting process. None pointed out any
irregularities at the polls, although the Communist Party had
expected to receive more votes.


6. (U) In addition to the political parties, local newspapers
report that leaders from Russia, China, Iran, Afghanistan,
Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Turkey have already delivered
congratulatory messages to President Rahmonov and pledged
bilateral cooperation.

JACOBSON