THE 2013 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: LEGITIMACY AND THE ISLAMIC REVIVAL PARTY OF TAJIKISTAN
Keywords:
Tajikistan, presidential election, the president, parties, the opposition, Islamic revival, Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan.Abstract
The author looks at the problem of the legitimacy of the 2013 presidential election in Tajikistan as a sine qua none of social and political stability and, consequently, of the country’s security and territorial integrity. In Tajikistan’s specific case, the election could only be legitimate if the opposition forces, primarily the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRP), which comes second after the institution of presidential power as the most influential political force, did not boycott it.
Despite the easily predicted results (another term for President Rakhmon), the IRP leaders decided to take part in the process: an Islamic revival could only take place in a politically stable Tajikistan. To gain public legitimacy for their decision, they organized a series of consultations with representatives of the public to formulate and realize the idea of an Alliance of the Reformist Forces of Tajikistan (ORST), which nominated human rights activist Oinihol Bobonazarova as its joint presidential candidate. She did not run because, after failing to present the necessary number of signatures gathered in her support to the Central Election Commission, she was not registered as a candidate. The IRP leaders abstained from voting, but denied all accusations of boycotting the election.
President Rakhmon, who won the election, and the IRP, which stuck resolutely to its course and was able to keep the Islamic revival going, were both winners. The country benefited the most—the election did not shake the frail stability, while Tajikistan’s enemies lost another chance to interfere in its domestic affairs with destructive intentions.
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See: Asia Plus, Information bulletin, 24 May, 2013, available at [http://news.tj/ru/node/145777], 12 December, 2013.
In September 2013 at the IRP congress he said that in December 2012 the Political Council had decided to take part in the elections (see: M. Kabiri’s Speech at the Congress of the IRP on 17 September, 2013,” Najot, No. 38, 19 September,2013, available at [http://www.nahzat.tj/haftanomai-najot/item/10127-najot-38-2013], 5 December, 2014).
Sadriddin Aini (1878-1954), writer and first president of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik S.S.R., one of the greatest figures in the public, literary, and cultural life of the Tajiks in the 20th century.
B.G. Gafurov (1909-1977), author of The Tajiks, First Secretary of the C.C. Communist Party of the Tajik S.S.R in 1946-1956 and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, and Academician of the U.S.S.R. academy of Sciences.
See: R. Mirzobekova, “V Tadzhikistane obiavleno o sozdanii novoy politicheskoy partii,”Asia Plus, 6 April, 2013,available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/140847], 19 January, 2013.
See: M. Tursunzoda, “‘Novy Tadzhikistan’ mozhet stat konkurentom dlia sushchestvuiushchikh partiy,” Asia Plus,8 April, 2013, available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/140968], 20 January, 2013.
See: S. Karaev, “‘Novy Tadzhikistan’ zaiavliaet ob ugrozakh v adres Zayda Saidova,” Asia Plus, 10 May, 2013, avail-able at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/143928], 14 January, 2014.
See: Kh. Shodiev, “V dome Zayda Saidova proizveden obysk,” Asia Plus, 11 May, 2013, available at [http://www.
ews.tj/ru/node/144093], 16 January, 2014.
See: “Zayd Saidov arestovan,” Asia Plus, 22 May, 2013, available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/news/zaid-saidov-arestovan],16 January, 2014.
Sunnatulo Rizoev was held in Khujand prison. Along with Toshev and other prisoners, formerly warlords of the op-position, he leaked information about tortures. In October 2013, Toshev and Rizoev were accused of “spreading false and offensive information,” found guilty, and sentenced to eight and nine years in prison, respectively.
See: “V Tadzhikistane sozdana Koalitisia za demokratiiu i grazhdanskoe obshchestvo,” Asia Plus, 25 May, 2013,available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/146181], 17 January, 2014.
See: “Lider sotsial-demokratov zaiavil, chto gotov stat edinym kandidatom na vyborakh prezidenta,” Asia Plus, 20 June,2013, available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/153121], 17 January, 2014.
Makhmujon Kasymov, member of the initiative group of New Tajikistan.
Khojimuhammad Umarov, Doctor of Economic Sciences, member of the initiative group of New Tajikistan, in the past, one of the leaders of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan (DPT).
Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda, one of the famous religious figures of Tajikistan, in the past head of the Kaziat of Tajikistan,first deputy of the head of the United Tajik Opposition, first deputy prime minister and deputy of the upper chamber of the Tajik parliament.
Oinihol Bobonazarova, human rights activist, leader of the public association called Perspektiva+, one of the leaders of democratic movement, in the past one of the active founders of the DPT, head of the office of the Soros Foundation in Dushanbe, advisor of the OSCE office and other international organizations represented in Tajikistan.
See: M. Tursunzoda, “Oinihol Bobonazarova stala edinym kandidatom ot oppozitsii,” Asia Plus, 10 September 2013,available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/170381], 19 January, 2014.
In coalition with the Democratic Party, the National Democratic Movement Rastokhez, and the La’li Badakhshon National Movement, the IRP organized huge rallies, the prologue to a full-scale civil war.
See: M. Kabiri’s Speech at the Congress of the IRP on 17 September, 2013.
See: “Bobonazarova schitaet, chto antireklama protiv IRP ne pozvolila sobrat nuzhnoe kolichestvo podpisey,” Asia Plus, 19 October, 2013, available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/174087], 16 January, 2014.
Ozodagon, 12 October, 2013.
“Tsentrizbirkom otkazal v registratsii O. Bobonazarovoy,” Asia Plus, 19 October, 2013, available at [http://www.ews.tj/ru/node/174083], 2 February, 2014.
“IRP vozderzhivaetsia ot uchastiia v prezidentskikh vyborakh,” Asia Plus, 21 October, 2013, available at [http://www.news.tj/ru/node/174254], 1 February, 2014.
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