DUSHANBE, April 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Speaking at a press conference in Dushanbe on April 3, the leader of the Social-Democratic Party (SDPT) also known Tajik lawyer, Rahmatillo Zoirov, said he intends to apply to the Constitutional Court to demand the elimination of the registration free imposed by the parliamentary elections code on individuals seeking to contest the election.

According to him, the fee set at 5,000 somoni (equivalent to some 1,300 US dollars) is unconstitutional and it prevents the majority of residents of the country living below the poverty line from running in parliamentary elections.  “Thus, the majority members of the SDPT are representatives of intelligentsia, which is one of the poorest sections of Tajikistan’s population,” said Zoirov, “I would like to note that I apply to the Constitutional Court as a citizen of Tajikistan because by law, I do not have right to apply there as chairman of political party.”

It is to be noted that the Communist Party (CPT) had prepared its new bill on election to the parliament that also proposed to eliminate the fee needed to run for political office in the country.  The CPT has already submitted its draft law d for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).