KHUJAND, August 25, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The land issue is becoming more and more acute in Sughd’s Istaravshan district, and therefore, local residents are resorting to the help of lawyers.  

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Ms. Dilfouza Shokirova, a lawyer with the public association Citizens’ Rights, which has worked in Istaravshan since 2001, said that up to 10 local residents are applying to them every day for the help on the land and housing problems.    

“Some of them are asking for representing them in courts,” said Shokirova, “The reasons are different: some of them are disputing land certificates, while others do not agree with contracts drawn for purchase/sale of houses.”   “Four lawyers currently work with our association and they have participated in more than 20 trials in economic and civil courts this year so far; they have won half of these cases.”