TAJIKISTAN: POLITICAL PARTY NARROWLY ESCAPES CLOSURE

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000640 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: POLITICAL PARTY NARROWLY ESCAPES CLOSURE ¶1. (SBU) Rahmatullo Zoyirov, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, breathed a sigh of relief when on April 24 the Supreme Court acquitted him of charges of not properly reporting on his party's activities and providing the necessary documents to the Ministry of Justice. ¶2. (SBU) In January of 2007, the Ministry of Justice demanded the Social Democratic Party's documents from Zoyirov including financial records, tax documents, and an annual report of its activities. Instead of directly submitting the documents to the Ministry of Justice, Zoyirov published the information in the national media. On March 5 the Ministry of Justice sent a written letter to the Social Democratic Party's office warning the party that if it did not submit all documents within ten days the Ministry of Justice would suspend the party's operations. ¶3. (SBU) Zoyirov contends that he never received the letter and therefore could not comply with the request. Zoyirov said he visited the Ministry of Justice at least ten times between December 2006 and March 2007 and questioned why none of his interlocutors ever asked him for any documents during their meetings. Prior to the court hearing, Zoyirov met with PolOff April 20 to discuss his party's latest problem, but expressed confidence that he would win the case. On April 24, the Supreme Court found Zoyirov not guilty. ¶4. (SBU) Why would the government go to the trouble of prosecuting Zoyirov only to find him not guilty? Over the past several weeks, Zoyirov has publicly issued strong statements criticizing the government. Zoyirov announced a new Alternative Development Strategy for Tajikistan which prioritizes legislative and political reform. Newspapers published his comments criticizing the current National Development Strategy for not tackling corruption and organized crime and only focusing on economic development. He is also assisting and advocating on behalf of Dushanbe residents who are in danger of being displaced from their homes under a city re-zoning plan. Irked by Zoyirov's meddling, Mayor Ubaidolloyev publicly said that Zoyirov should mind his own business and stick to politics rather than focus on economic developments. According to Zoyirov, Ubaidolloyev stated in a public meeting, "I will show him." ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Zoyirov is the preeminent constitutional lawyer in Tajikistan and used to serve as President Rahmon's legal advisor on constitutional matters. In fact, he helped write the constitution. His knowledge of the law and good connections with the Supreme Court judges whom he considers to be colleagues, no doubt helped him fight against the government's desire to shut down the party. The government likely intended the court case as a warning to Zoyirov that his outspoken criticism is not welcome, and that at any time, it can pull the plug on his party. END COMMENT. JACOBSON