KULOB, September 30, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Democratic (Masoud Sobirov-run wing) and Communist parties have decided not to participate in by-elections to the Kulob city legislature scheduled for November 16. 

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Amrokhon Safarov, head of the organization of the Democratic Party (DPT) for Kulob, said that Democrats had decided not to participate in the by-elections due to unfair conditions.  “Democrats do not believe that by-elections will be fair and transparent,” Safarov said.  According to him, they intend to recall their candidate for the city electoral commission.  

Sharif Safarov, head of the organization of the Communist Party (CPT) for Kulob, told Asia-Plus on Tuesday that five seats Communists now have in the Kulob city legislature are enough to raise existing problems.  “We will not able to win the majority of the seats in the city legislature, you know,” Safarov said.   

As it had been reported earlier, the by-elections will be held in three constituencies – 1st, 9th, and 40th.  The election of new members of the legislature will be held to fill vacancies following the resignation of three legislators.    

Thus, Said Atoyev who represented constituency 1 in the legislature was appointed to head the Dushanbe electric systems; Safarali Rajabov who represented constituency 9 was appointed as chairman of the Khovaling district; and Hakim Karimov who represented constituency 40 in the legislature was appointed as chairman of the Nosir Khusrav district.    

The city electoral commission members include representatives of the People’s Democratic, Islamic Revivals and Economic Reforms parties. 

The Kulob city legislature has 40 members.