DUSHANBE/KHOROG, June 9, Asia-Plus  -- A regional conference of the Democratic Party (DPT) has elected Iqbolsho Muborakshoyev, former activist of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO), head of the DPT regional organization for Gorno Badakhshan.  He replaced Marod Mirasanov.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Said Sharif, member of the board of the DPT run by jailed Mahmadruzi Iskandarov, said that the conference was held in Khorog, the capital of Gorno Badakhshan on June 7.  30 delegates from the GBAO district attended the conference.  According to Said Sharif, the DPT organization for Gorno Badakhshan has some 600 members.

Sharif noted that the conference had charged Marod Mirasanov, who currently heads of the GBAO agency for environmental protection, with inaction and removed him.  “They elected Iqbolsho Muborakshoyev as leader of the party organization in the region who will be able to intensify activity of the party in Gorno Badakhshan.”   

 “A day before the conference, we held a meeting of the board of the party organization for GBAO and told Mirasanov that a number of organizing issues will be considered at the conference and many district organizations are dissatisfied with his passive position,” Said Sharif said

In the meantime, Marod Mirasanov told Asia-Plus on Monday that the June 7 conference was illegal.  According to him, he allegedly did not know about holding of the conference, “while in accordance with party’s rules, I had to not only attend the conference but also report on the work done.” 

Besides, he holds that the conference has not caused split in the DPT organization in Gorno Badakhshan.  “There is no split in our organization and I head it legally,” said Mirasanov.  “The leader of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan is Masoud Sobirov, who was officially recognized by the Ministry of Justice.”  

Asia-Plus has applied to the GBAO justice directorate chief Ganjibek Muzaffarbekov asking for comments on the conference.  Muzaffarbekov has supported position of Marod Mirasanov.